"Get in," Theodore demanded.
Bella climbed into the car with a huff. "You could have let me go to work," she grumbled, annoyance bubbling up. "I told you I would be back in time. Couldn’t you have let me handle it? Do you have no faith in me?"
"Still complaining!" Theodore frowned, displeased. "Why are you so eager to accompany Zack? Is he special to you?" His voice held a hint of suspicion, a dark cloud creeping into his previously carefree eyes.
Fury blazed in Bella’s eyes as she locked gazes with Theodore. His possessiveness, laced with suspicion, was a slap in the face. How dare he question her loyalty when he was the one cheating on their marriage!
"Yes, he is special," she snapped defiantly. "He is my boss. I have a job to do, and it’s important to me."
Theodore’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing. "You’re my wife. That should be more important."
"Don’t twist my words," Bella shot back. "You can’t expect me to drop everything at your whim. I have responsibilities at work, too. Shouldn’t I..."
Before she could finish, Theodore’s grip tightened, pinning her against the car seat. "There is only one man in your life, and it’s me."
His lips crashed down on hers in a bruising kiss. It was not like the kisses they had shared. It was violent as if he were ready to tear her apart. His hold on her arms was agonizing, leaving her wincing in pain.
Panic clawed at Bella. The playful Theodore was gone, replaced by a stranger fueled by possessiveness. She was desperate to break free, but her strength was not enough to push him away. Afraid and desperate, she lashed out, biting his lip.
"Uh..." A choked gasp escaped Theodore as he recoiled, disbelief contorting his features. He touched his lip, his fingers brushing away a smear of blood.
Bella’s heart sank, nervous and guilty at the same time. She was sorry for biting him. "You... you made me do that," she stammered, her voice cracking.
"I am your husband," he snapped. Do I disgust you so much?"
Bella wouldn’t have loathed him if she had not caught him red-handed with Willow. "You clearly like Willow!" she snapped back. "Why did you lie to me?"
For the first time, her jealousy spilled out into the open.
Theodore’s expression shifted from anger to surprise. "Willow?"
Bella’s anger flared again. "I saw you with her. You looked so... so close."
Theodore’s smirk returned, the flicker of disappointment extinguished. He could clearly see her jealousy.
"I can’t deny Willow is special," he admitted. "No one can replace her in my heart. But listen to me," he said, drawing her into a possessive embrace, "you, Bella, are someone I can’t live without. You are precious."
Bella’s eyes misted, not with admiration, but with a surge of indignation. Disgust churned in her gut. He brazenly admitted his feelings for Willow, yet he claimed that she was precious to him. It was a mockery of her emotions.
"I hate you," she hissed.
"Everything will be fine," Theodore replied with a smirk, seemingly indifferent to her emotional upheaval. His confidence was unshaken because he believed her misunderstanding would soon be cleared up.
Bella’s body stiffened in his embrace, her mind a whirl of conflicting thoughts. How could he be so dismissive of her feelings? The casual way he acknowledged Willow’s special place in his heart made her feel like he was just toying with her.
Her heart ached with the realization that the man she thought she loved might not be who she believed him to be. She struggled to push him away, but his grip tightened, pulling her closer.
"Let me go," she demanded.
"No," he said softly but firmly, his eyes locking onto hers. "I won’t let you go, Bella. Not now, not ever. You’ll understand soon enough."
Bella felt a wave of helplessness wash over her. Her tears finally spilled over, running down her cheeks. She had never felt so conflicted, so trapped between love and loathing.
As much as she wanted to break free from him, a part of her still clung to the hope that he would leave Willow soon and remain only hers. But for now, all she felt was a deep, consuming rage.
~~~~~~~~~
They arrived at the villa in no time, and Bella stormed into the bedroom. The last thing she wanted was to face him, his callous admissions churning her stomach. She would do her duty diligently and treat her sister well, considering it a return of his favor.
Contrary to her grumpiness, Theodore buzzed with a perverse kind of excitement. He relished the anticipation. He could practically picture the surprise on her face when she would finally know who his sister was. It would be fun to watch.
A cruel amusement danced in his eyes.
Reaching into his coat pocket, he retrieved a red velvet box. He flipped it open, revealing the glint of a diamond ring nestled inside. He had not given her a ring yet. Tonight, he would give it to her and confess his desire.
Bella prepared herself for the evening, pushing down the irritation bubbling inside her. She knew it would be a long night, but she was determined to face it with grace.
Despite her frustration, she took a deep breath and headed to the kitchen, checking on the progress of the meal. She cast a cursory glance at the spread laid out. A jolt of surprise shot through her as she noticed that every dish was seafood – glistening shrimp, plump scallops, and an aromatic seafood stew. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
"Little Miss likes seafood," the elderly maid chirped, her smile as warm as the simmering broth. "Always demands shrimp whenever she visits."
"I see," Bella murmured, her mind already swirling with questions. The prospect of meeting this unseen sibling was both daunting and strangely exciting.
A rhythmic click of footsteps drew her attention from her thoughts. As she moved her gaze in that direction, she saw Theodore coming down, dressed immaculately. He looked as handsome as ever in a crisp white shirt and a sharply tailored black suit.
Bella couldn’t take her eyes off him. The anger that had burned so brightly just moments ago dimmed in the face of his undeniable attractiveness. Her heart, a traitor in her chest, skipped a beat.
For a stolen moment, lost in the whirlpool of his charm, Bella allowed herself to dream of a different reality. A reality where loyalty bloomed and commitment blossomed. A reality where Theodore had eyes only for her.
But the dream was shattered as quickly as it formed. The bitter memories resurfaced, twisting her gut. No, she wouldn’t be a fool. Soon, after meeting his sister, Bella would make her position clear. She couldn’t be with him if he had Willow as his mistress. He had to choose one—she or Willow.
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