Theodore crouched beside Bella, his face etched with worry. "Bella! Are you okay?"
Bella winced. "My head hurts."
He pulled her into his arms, his chest rising and falling rapidly. "I am sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you."
Bella was relieved in his warm embrace. All her fear and worry disappeared. The warmth of his embrace was a comforting cocoon. She closed her eyes, seeking solace in his presence.
"Let’s go home," Theodore said, lifting her into his arms. He carried her out of the club, his heart pounding with concern and anger.
The driver’s eyes widened in alarm when he saw Theodore emerge with Bella in his arms. He wondered if Bella was alright but held his tongue, focusing on opening the car door.
Theodore gently placed Bella in the back seat and turned to the driver demandingly. "Hand me the first aid box – fast!"
The driver nodded and pulled out the first aid box from the dashboard, quickly handing it to Theodore. He then hopped into the car and started the engine.
Theodore examined Bella’s face, his gaze falling on the red marks. A surge of fury coursed through him. Marcus would pay for this. But for now, Bella was his priority.
He rummaged through the first aid box, extracting a lotion. Gently, he applied it to her inflamed cheek, his touch tender and filled with a protective intensity.
Bella sighed, her body relaxing under his care.
"I shouldn’t have let you go alone," Theodore lamented with regret. "I am sorry."
Bella gently placed her fingers against his lips, silencing him. "Why are you saying sorry? You didn’t know this was coming."
Theodore hugged her again, his movement urgent. "I am relieved you are okay."
Bella returned the hug, a complex mix of gratitude and affection washing over her. Once again, he had saved her. It seemed that he had become her protector.
Bella wrapped her arms around him, feeling a mix of gratitude and affection. Again, he had saved her. The realization that he had become her protector brought a small smile to her lips. But the smile quickly faded as a question formed in her mind.
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with curiosity. "Who is that man? And what’s your enmity with him?"
Theodore’s jaw clenched, his face contorting with anger. "He is Marcus, my competitor – always jealous of me because he never won a game against me. I thought it was just his jealousy and never paid attention to his provocations. But...he crossed the line. He dared to touch you."
Determination flared in Theodore’s eyes. He silently vowed to give Marcus a punishment he would never forget, but he kept that part to himself, not wanting to scare Bella.
"I was scared," Bella whispered, trembling as she clung to him tighter. Her skin crawled with disgust as she recalled Marcus’s hands on her body. "I thought he would..."
"He won’t come closer to you," Theodore asserted, cutting her short. "Don’t be afraid. I’ll always protect you."
Bella leaned her head on his chest, trying to banish the memories of the night. Theodore’s steady heartbeat and warm embrace began to soothe her frayed nerves. As the car journeyed on, the rhythmic motion of the vehicle lulled her into a peaceful sleep.
Theodore held her close, his gaze fixed on the road ahead, his mind already plotting the downfall of the man who had dared to harm her. He pulled out his phone and dialed Hugo’s number. The call was connected in a few rings.
"Listen up!" he said in a hushed but intense tone. "Marcus dared to touch Bella. Find him... Chop his hands off and feed them to the dogs." His grip on the phone tightened. "But don’t kill him. Let him live miserably, missing his hands every moment. He should remember who he offended." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
He ended the call abruptly, dropping the phone beside him, and fuming in anger.
Several minutes later, they arrived at the villa. Bella was still asleep, her breathing soft and even. Theodore gently lifted her, careful not to wake her, and carried her into the house. He placed her on the bed with tender precision, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face before quietly leaving the room.
He moved silently to his study, his mind racing as he waited for updates from Hugo. The minutes dragged on, his anticipation building until his phone finally buzzed with an incoming call.
"We have captured Marcus," Hugo reported. "He wants to see you and personally apologize."
Theodore sneered at the thought. "Apology? Now he realizes he made a mistake. But it’s too late. I won’t spare him."
"Are you coming?" Hugo asked.
Theodore didn’t want to leave Bella alone, but the need for retribution was too strong. "I am coming," he asserted with resolve.
Ending the call, he dashed out of the study, determination propelling him forward. He wouldn’t rest until Marcus paid for his transgressions.
Theodore arrived at the underground den, where Marcus was kept, his presence commanding as he strode in with purpose. Marcus lay on the cold floor, his hands and legs tied behind his back, rendering him completely helpless.
Theodore approached him with slow, deliberate steps, each one echoing ominously in the confined space. Hearing the footsteps, Marcus blinked his eyes open and saw the familiar, imposing figure looming over him. Fear surged through him.
"Theodore!" he exclaimed desperately. "Please don’t hurt me. I accept I was wrong. I didn’t know she was your wife."
"So what?" Theodore roared, his voice reverberating through the room. "Even if she wasn’t my wife, you shouldn’t have done that. You... tried to violate a woman’s dignity. I won’t spare you." He glanced at Hugo, his eyes hard with resolve. "Beat him."
Two hulking guards stepped forward, wielding baseball bats. Without hesitation, they began to strike Marcus, the sound of wood hitting flesh mingling with his anguished cries.
"Theodore, please let me go," Marcus pleaded between sobs. "I’ll disappear from here. I promise I’ll never cross your path. Just one last time – forgive me, please."
"Forgive you?" Theodore snapped, his voice dripping with disdain. "You have the nerve to ask me that!"
"I am sorry. I was wrong," Marcus whimpered.
Theodore sneered dangerously, his eyes glinting with cold fury. "Sorry is not enough. It’s too late. You should have considered your actions before even thinking of violating her. You knew she was with me. Despite that, you dared to touch her. You beat her and tried to kill her."
He fixated his murderous glare on Marcus, his rage palpable. "Do you think your sorry is enough to forgive you?" he roared, his voice filled with an unyielding sense of justice and vengeance.
"I am willing to do anything for you. Just spare me," Marcus pleaded with desperation.
"Really? You will do anything I ask."
Marcus nodded frantically.
A smirk played at the corners of his lips, a cold, calculating look in his eyes. "Then let them chop your hands.".
Marcus’s face turned ashen, his eyes widening in sheer terror.
"What are you looking at?" Theodore scolded the guards. "Chop his hands."
One of the guards fetched a power saw, the loud, menacing buzz filling the room. The sound alone was enough to send Marcus into a fit of panic.
"No!" Marcus yelled desperately. "Theodore, you can’t do this to me."
The guards grabbed his hands, pinning them down with unyielding force. Marcus’s cries grew louder, his voice breaking with desperation and terror.
"Theodore, I know something about your accident. Please, stop them," Marcus screamed, his words tumbling out in a frantic rush.
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