They exited the doctor’s office, Bella clutching his hand tightly. She stopped abruptly, tugging on his arm to halt their steps.
Theodore turned to her, his brow furrowed in concern. Gratitude welled up within Bella. He was here, a beacon of support amid her storm.
She wanted to tell him everything, to bare her soul and share the burdens she had carried alone.
"Is there something you want to say?" he asked gently.
Bella nodded. "You were honest with me. It’s now my turn to tell you about myself."
Theodore smiled warmly, reaching out to brush a stray tear from her cheek. "There’s no rush, Bella," he reassured her. "Let’s visit your mother first. We can talk when we get back."
Bella nodded slowly.
As they navigated the sterile corridors toward the ICU, Theodore’s phone buzzed insistently. He saw Hugo’s name on the screen. He hesitated for a moment to talk to him in Bella’s presence, but he couldn’t ignore the call either.
"Go ahead," Bella said softly, sensing his dilemma. "I’ll see Mom first."
Theodore’s gaze lingered on Bella’s retreating form as he pressed the phone against his ear and said solemnly, "Hello."
"There has been a strange development with the recent incident," Hugo said grimly. "The bullet extracted from the gang leader didn’t match police or our own weaponry. And under further questioning, the gang members claim they didn’t shoot at Skyler. They even didn’t know who had shot their boss."
The information was shocking and alarming. Theodore became pensive. "What the hell does that mean?" he questioned, his mind racing to comprehend the implications.
"This means a third party is involved," Hugo asserted. "The cops are checking on the possibilities of the involvement of rival gangs. However, I have a different perspective."
"What is your thought on this?" Theodore asked, curious.
"If it were rival gangs, there would have been a bloodbath," Hugo explained. "The destruction would have been huge. But only the leader is dead, with Skyler injured beside him. This feels like a targeted attack."
Theodore became pensive, Hugo’s theory stirring a storm of thoughts. What had begun as a simple rescue mission for Bella was spiraling into a complex web of intrigue and danger, hinting at the involvement of a mysterious third party. His mind raced, piecing together the fragments of the puzzle, eager to uncover the identity of those behind the shooting of Skyler and the gang leader.
"A targeted attack," he repeated, his mind analyzing the scenario. "Who could be the target? The gang leader or Skyler?"
"That’s the million-dollar question," Hugo replied. "We need to find out who stands to gain from this chaos. But I think Skyler may not be the target. He was unlucky that he was injured. What happened that day was still a mystery. Only Skyler could shed some light on it. Anyway, I am looking into it. I’ll call you if I get an update."
Theodore’s chest suddenly became heavy with the thought that Skyler was injured because of him. He shouldn’t have left him alone to deal with those thugs. He felt responsible for him.
"How is he now?" he murmured.
"Still critical," came a dejected reply from Hugo. "His consciousness is coming and going—too weak to give a statement."
"Make sure he gets the best care available," Theodore instructed before ending the call.
His mind churned, replaying Hugo’s revelations like a broken record. If not rival gangs, then who? Could Skyler have been the intended target? A deep furrow creased Theodore’s brow.
Skyler had been working as his assistant for the past three years and had proven himself time and again. Unlike Theodore, entangled in a web of family feuds and corporate espionage, Skyler’s past was a clean slate. No enemies, no hidden agendas.
Who would want him dead?
Theodore’s suspicion began to take a darker turn. Could his half-brother have orchestrated this? Was it possible that Skyler was an unintended victim of a plot meant for Theodore himself?
The mystery of his accident had not been resolved yet. Back then, his car’s brake was tampered with which led to a near-fatal crash. However, he had not been able to find out who had messed with his car.
Theodore had always suspected his stepmother and half-brother of being behind it. Their motives had always been clear—eliminate Theodore and secure the family fortune. It wouldn’t be surprising if they again planned something nasty to kill him.
Theodore’s jaw tightened. ’I need to resolve the mysteries soon,’ he murmured to himself with conviction. He couldn’t afford to let these shadows threaten the people he cared about any longer.
Lost in a maze of his own thoughts, Theodore wandered towards the ICU. As he rounded a corner, he spotted Bella emerging from the intensive care unit, her face etched with despair. Tears streamed down her cheeks, tracing a glistening path through the pallor of her skin. The sight of her vulnerability struck him hard.
He instinctively wrapped his arms around her, offering whatever comfort he could at that moment.
"She is paler and weaker," Bella choked out. "I can’t bear to see her like this. I can’t lose her."
Her mother was all the family she had. Losing her would be like losing a part of herself.
A pang of empathy shot through him. He knew all too well the pain of losing a mother. His parents had separated when he was young, and he missed the opportunity to be with his mother. As he grew older, he expected to live with his mother, but she died before that.
With both his parents gone, his grandfather was the only family he had left. The thought of losing him was unbearable. So he could feel Bella’s pain and fear.
"She’ll be alright," he murmured. "I’ll find a donor. We won’t let her go. Don’t lose hope."
Bella clung to him, her body wracked with silent sobs.
"You need rest. Let’s go home." Gently, he guided her out of the hospital, his arm around her shoulders, offering comfort and strength.
A heavy silence settled between them as they settled in the car. Bella stared out the window, her eyes glazed with a deep worry as she leaned back on the passenger seat.
The relentless flow of tears had taken its toll, leaving her eyelids heavy and threatening to close. Soon, she drifted into a restless sleep, her body seeking solace despite the turmoil within.
"Bella!" Theodore turned to her and found her dozing off, her head dropping to one side. He sighed. He had intended to tell her about retrieving the house documents, but sleep had already claimed her.
’I’ll hand the documents to her tomorrow," she thought.
They finally arrived at his villa. Theodore emerged first, then carefully scooped Bella into his arms, carrying her gently inside. He lowered her onto the plush bed.
Bella snuggled deeper into the pillows and continued sleeping. She looked innocent in her sleep. The tear tracks, however, remained a testament to the emotional storm she had weathered.
Theodore couldn’t tear his gaze away – a mixture of empathy and a newfound protectiveness stirring within him. He wouldn’t let her suffer anymore. He vowed to himself to fill her life with love, care, and joy.
With newfound purpose, Theodore strode out of the bedroom and dialed a number. "I need a liver donor for Bella’s mother," he declared. "Urgently. Money won’t be an issue. Just find a suitable donor."
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