Theodore was aware of it. He had orchestrated it himself, asking Willow to encourage Bella to participate in the upcoming fashion show. He hadn’t told Bella on his own as he feared she would refuse to participate, reasoning he would be favoring her. Relief flooded him as he saw her enthusiasm. However, he pretended as if he was hurt.
"Work kept you busy, and you forgot about me," he whined with exaggerated irritability. "I want you to message me every hour."
"What?" Bella’s eyes widened at his surprising demand.
"If you don’t, I’ll come there," he threatened.
"Every hour is too much," she protested, shaking her head. "I can’t do that. I have work to do."
"So you’re saying you won’t have time to send me a message?" His expression darkened into a scowl. "Seems like I’ll have to talk to Willow then."
"No, you won’t." Bella grabbed his hand desperately, her eyes pleading. "Don’t bother her. I-I’ll try."
Theodore’s stern facade melted into satisfaction. He enjoyed it when she relented to his whims. "You have to." He held her face gently, leaning in to kiss her lips. "Come with me to a private party," he whispered against her mouth.
"What party?" Bella blinked, confused and curious.
"You’ll know soon enough." He pulled back, a smirk playing on his lips, leaving Bella intrigued and slightly apprehensive about what he had planned.
Bella watched him, several questions swirling in her mind. She had clearly told him not to reveal their marriage in public yet. Why did he want to take her to a party? What was he planning?
"Will it be suitable for me to come with you?" she asked cautiously.
"As my wife, you should attend such parties with me," Theodore said indifferently.
His response made it clear that he was planning on publicly declaring their marriage. Bella grew uneasy, feeling a knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach.
"But I am not ready for it," she whined.
"Ready for what?" Theodore raised an eyebrow, a hint of impatience creeping into his voice.
"For announcing our relationship," Bella exclaimed, slightly breathless and anxious. Her eyes searched his face, hoping he would understand her apprehension.
Theodore hadn’t planned any grand announcements; he just wanted her by his side. However, seeing her hesitance about making their marriage public troubled him deeply. He didn’t like keeping their relationship a secret, especially now that he had fallen so deeply in love with her.
If it had been any other woman in Bella’s place, she wouldn’t have wasted a minute announcing their relationship on social media. However, Bella wasn’t willing to do that.
Her reluctance gnawed at him.
Theodore couldn’t bear it anymore. "Why are you so hesitant about it?" he asked, the words escaping his lips hurriedly.
"I don’t want people to think I am married to you because of your money," Bella replied.
"Who will dare to say that about my wife?" Theodore growled. "If anyone tries to humiliate you, I’ll make them pay."
Bella was speechless. Sometimes, his protectiveness felt more like possessiveness, and it was both comforting and oppressive.
Theodore pulled her close to his chest, his grip firm yet tender. "You are my woman. I won’t allow anyone to bully you. Trust me."
"It’s not about trust," she protested. "I want to prove myself worthy of you."
"Nonsense!" He scowled, his expression darkening. "If you are not worthy of me, who else is? I owe this life to you, Bella. And I want to dedicate myself to you. It’s not about whether you are worthy of me. It’s about whether you want to be with me or not, and whether or not you believe I’m a good fit for you."
Bella felt a rush of emotions. Theodore’s words were intense, filled with a love that was fierce and unyielding. He wanted her to understand that their relationship wasn’t about societal perceptions or proving herself. It was about their bond and their commitment to each other.
Bella had never thought his love for her ran so deep. Here she had worried about their differences in status and wealth, but now, his sincerity melted those concerns into nothingness. Her heart swelled with love.
Their eyes locked, conveying more than words ever could.
"Don’t think all this. I don’t care if you make your identity or not. My love for you will be the same forever." Theodore placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Bella closed her eyes, savoring the moment, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"But I respect your wish," he murmured against her skin. "I’ll keep our relationship confidential as long as you wish."
"Thank you." Bella’s grin widened with gratitude. She hoped their secret wouldn’t need to be kept forever, especially not from those closest to her. Her mother’s longing to meet Theodore echoed in her thoughts.
"Even though we are keeping it from the public, we can’t deceive our loved ones," she said. "Mamma wants to meet you."
"Tomorrow, I’ll go to the hospital after work and talk to her."
His promise to visit her mother brought a rush of happiness. Finally, her mother would see who she had married to.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sun had just dipped below the horizon when the car finally came to a halt. Bella stepped out of the car and gazed up at the imposing gray boundary wall adorned with graffiti of various sports personalities. Riverside Sports Club was emblazoned in red against a crisp whiteboard atop the entrance arch.
Surprise flickered across Bella’s face as she took in her surroundings. She had expected him to be whisked away to a hotel or a banquet hall, not a sports club.
"Is the party going on here?" she asked with astonishment.
"It’s the annual get-together for club members," Theodore explained casually.
"You are a member here?" Bella’s eyes widened in surprise. "I didn’t know you were into sports."
"You have a lot to learn about me," Theodore replied with a smirk, his eyes twinkling. "But you’ll discover everything in due time. Come on, let’s go inside."
Theodore confidently led Bella through the entrance, flashing his membership card to the guard.
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