Theodore’s heart ached for her. The vulnerability etched on her face, the silent cries wracking her body, it tore at him in a way he hadn’t anticipated.
"You must be tired," he murmured, breaking the silence that had enveloped them. "Let’s go home."
Bella didn’t respond. She didn’t want to move, didn’t want to relinquish the fragile comfort his embrace offered. For now, at least in his arms, she could find a brief respite from the storm raging within her.
"Don’t worry about here," he assured her. "I’ll make sure the nurses take good care of her."
Bella met his gaze, her eyes red-rimmed and glistening with tears. A flicker of gratitude sparked within them. "Thank you, Theodore," she whispered. "Thank you for helping me, being so kind to me, for everything you’ve done. It means more than words can express. I could never repay your kindness."
Theodore cupped her face and brushed away a stray tear with his thumb. "No," he said softly. "You owe me nothing, Bella. There should be no burden of repayment between us. As your husband, I must take care of you and your needs. Don’t ever mention repaying favors again, alright?"
Bella’s heart swelled with a warmth that transcended mere gratitude. In this man’s eyes, she saw a reflection of something deeper, something akin to devotion. A genuine smile, wobbly at the edges but heartfelt nonetheless, peeked through her tears.
"Now, shall we go home?" he asked huskily.
Bella nodded.
Theodore guided her out of the hospital.
~~~~~~~
Lionel huffed and puffed with frustration as he returned to the lodge where he had been staying. "Ungrateful child," grumbled under his breath as he fumbled with the lock on his lodge door.
"Mr. Dawn?" A voice from behind drew his attention.
Lionel whirled around, his eyes widening at the sight of a tall, imposing figure clad in a black suit. He squinted at the man, observing him from head to toe keenly.
The man stood with an air of quiet menace, scrutinizing Lionel with an intensity that made him shiver slightly.
"Do I know you?" Lionel stammered. The unexpected visitor left him feeling ill at ease.
"We know you, that’s all that matters," the man replied curtly, his voice clipped. "My boss wants to talk to you. Come with me."
Lionel’s breath caught in his throat. Every fiber of his being screamed danger. He recoiled instinctively. "I don’t talk to strangers. Please go away."
With a surge of nervous energy, he pushed the door open and darted inside. But his escape was cut short. Before the door could even click shut, a powerful kick sent it flying back against the wall. Startled, Lionel stumbled backward, his heart hammering in fear.
With a practiced flick of his wrist, the man produced a gun and leveled it directly at Lionel, his face a mask of cold indifference.
Panic flooded Lionel’s veins. His hands shot up in a gesture of surrender, his face turning ghostly pale. He had borrowed from so many people that he had no idea who had sent this man to collect the debt from him.
"Don’t shoot, please," he cried out. "I’ll pay you back, every penny. Just give me some time!"
The man’s lips remained a thin line. "Come with me without making a noise," he commanded, his fierce tone leaving no room for argument.
Lionel, his body a vessel of trembling terror, could only stammer, "I’m coming, I’m coming."
He rose to his feet, legs wobbly like a newborn fawn’s. With a defeated slump of his shoulders, he shuffled out of the lodge, the ominous figure in black following closely behind.
Disoriented and shoved with surprising force, Lionel found himself sprawled on the leather seat of a black Range Rover parked on the roadside. Before he could even register his predicament, the door slammed shut with a heavy thud.
Wincing, he twisted in his seat, his gaze snagging on the young man with an authoritative aura occupying the opposite side.
Lionel scrutinized the man, trying to place his face but coming up empty. He was certain he had never crossed paths with someone of such apparent influence. The tailored black suit and the calm, controlled presence marked this man as someone from a very different world than the usual rough crowd Lionel dealt with.
Lionel’s brow furrowed in confusion. His gaze roved on him as he studied him closely.
"Sir, I don’t understand. There has been a misunderstanding, I’m certain." He was confident he had not offended this mysterious man in his life. Maybe he had mistaken him for someone else. "Who are you, and why this forceful abduction?"
Franklin remained silent for a beat too long. His gaze, sharp and assessing, raked over Lionel, taking in every detail. The photos of him with Bella at the hospital, captured by a discreet investigator, flickered through Franklin’s mind. He had been sneakily investigating Bella and learned about her bitter relationship with her stepfather. But he had not anticipated he would meet with Lionel like this.
"We are meeting for the first time," Franklin finally replied in a measured tone. "But I know who you are and the bitterness between you and your daughter."
Lionel’s eyes widened in surprise, his mind racing to figure out how much this stranger knew about his personal life. A bewildered frown creased his face. This wasn’t the man he had seen with Bella.
How, then, did he know her? Could it be that Bella had many admirers?
Curiosity flickered in his eyes as he ventured a question, "How do you know her?"
Franklin’s expression darkened, his eyes hardening into chips of flint. "I haven’t given you the permission to ask questions to me," he snarled, and Lionel shrank back. "I ask, you answer. Honestly."
Lionel bobbed his head frantically, knowing the consequences of offending him.
"Why the animosity between you and Bella?" Franklin pressed with icy curiosity. "She didn’t hesitate to send her father to jail. It was quite surprising." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
Annoyance curdled in Lionel’s gut. "Ungrateful child," he hissed. "I raised her, gave her my name, and a roof over her head. But she forgot everything. She doesn’t even know who her real father is. Since she was a baby, I’ve been her father. Yet, not once has she called me Papa."
"Pity," Franklin murmured, feigning empathy as he patted Lionel’s shoulder. "You say she doesn’t know who her real father is. You mean... the biological father died before she was born?"
"Dead? No," Lionel scoffed. "That scoundrel left her mother after getting her pregnant. A bastard child, that’s what she is. I took pity on Selena, married her, and gave her daughter my name. But both mother and daughter, they’re nothing but ungrateful vipers!"
"Ah," Franklin breathed, a slow nod accompanying the realization that dawned on him.
Bastard child. The words echoed in his mind, a sneer twisting his lips.
That old hag, Malcolm, would never accept a bastard child as a daughter-in-law. This unexpected encounter had proven far more useful than Franklin anticipated. A strange sense of satisfaction settled over him.
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