She won’t get away with this.

Olivia approached Ivy's cabin, her lips twisted in a malicious smirk. She wouldn't miss this opportunity to strike at Bella. With determination in her strides, she stormed toward Ivy's cabin, her eyes flashing with a chilling certainty.

"Miss Hill, I have something to tell you," Olivia said with urgency.

Ivy's face, already etched with frustration, contorted further at the sight of Olivia. "Don't even start," she barked. "You're a waste of space. I don't need you anymore. Just get out."

Olivia, unfazed, adopted a practiced mask of apology. "I know I've messed up," she said apologetically, "but please, Miss Hill, you have to hear me out. It's important. This time, you won't be disappointed."

Her confidence compelled Ivy to reconsider. A flicker of suspicion crossed Ivy's face. Still, curiosity battled with annoyance. "Fine," she finally conceded. "Speak quickly."

"Bella left all of a sudden," Olivia dropped the bomb, savoring the impact in Ivy's widening eyes replied.

Ivy's temper flared instantly. "Left? What do you mean left? She was absent all morning!" The cabin seemed to shrink under the force of her fury. "How could she leave so early?"

Ivy fumed. This level of negligence and disregard for protocol was unacceptable. She wouldn't let this slide without consequences.

"That woman thinks she can come and go as she pleases!" Ivy muttered. "She won't get away with this."

Satisfaction gleamed in Olivia's eyes. She had successfully planted the seed of trouble, eager to see it grow into a full-blown storm for Bella.

"She looked truly disturbed while talking on the phone," Olivia emphasized, "I heard her promising to go somewhere and then rushing off in a flurry."

Ivy, perched behind the desk, absorbed the information with narrowed eyes. The worry lines etching her brow deepened.

It seemed that Bella was indeed in trouble. and a dangerous kind of excitement flickered in Ivy's chest. Ivy wanted to know what was going on in Bella's life. This could be the turning point, the chance she had been waiting for.

"You can leave now." She dismissed Olivia. "I'll let Zack know."

Olivia practically skipped out of the room, certain Zack's wrath would fall upon Bella this time.

The moment the door closed, Ivy's demeanor shifted. Thoughtfulness replaced the steely glint in her eyes. Instead of reaching for Zack, she picked up her sleek phone and dialed a number. Her voice turned sharp and calculating as she spoke.

"I need you to look into someone," she said as soon as the call connected. "Find out everything about her."

"Consider it done," a deep voice replied.

Ending the call, Ivy twisted her lips into a sly smile. "This time, Bella, I won't let you get away."

She was determined to uncover Bella's secrets and use them to her advantage. With this new information, she felt more powerful, ready to manipulate the situation to her benefit.

~~~~~~~~~~~

At the head office of Ace Group...

The polished mahogany door of Theodore's office swung open, and Skyler entered. "The land acquisition for the west district is finalized," he informed, placing a leather-bound folder on the desk. "Construction can commence as soon as you give the approval."

Theodore's face turned serious. A wave of emotions washed over him, transporting him back six months. The memory of the inspection trip, the accident, and the coma was still vivid.

After waking up from the coma, he inspected the area and noticed there was not a single multi-specialty hospital, no state-of-the-art equipment, just a solitary, under-equipped facility struggling to serve the community. It wasn't enough, not for the critically ill patients.

Determined to address this gap and express his gratitude to the mysterious person who had saved him that night, Theodore planned to build a multi-specialty hospital. But the sweet sentiment was marred by a bitter aftertaste.

Isabella. The woman who had held such a prominent place in his life, the woman who had given him a new life, couldn't be his.

Shutting out the unwelcome memories, Theodore forced himself back to the present. "Before we proceed, I need to see the land myself."

"Sure. When do you want to go there?" Skyler asked.

Theodore thought about it for a while. He had a promise to keep – a weekend visit to his grandfather, where he intended to introduce Bella. The inspection had to be done, and it had to be done before that.

"Fix it tomorrow," he said.

"Tomorrow?" Skyler flipped open his diary. "Your schedule for tomorrow includes a crucial meeting with Mr. Willis."

"Postpone it!" Theodore practically shouted, a spark of impatience igniting within him.

Skyler swallowed in nervousness. There were times, like this very moment, when he really wanted to resign and get away from the Reids. He knew what postponing Mr. Willis' meeting meant – Malcolm, Theodore's iron-fisted grandfather, would rain down fire and brimstone.

"Alright," Skyler conceded with a sigh. "I'll get it rescheduled, but you need to explain things to your grandfather yourself."

Theodore rubbed his brow. He believed his grandpa would understand if he explained it. "I'll handle it," he muttered. "Now, listen closely. Inform Bella she needs to be prepared for a meeting with my grandfather this weekend. Additionally," he continued, "reach out to Isabella and return the pendant to her."

He pulled out a small box from the drawer and pushed it across the desk towards Skyler.

Skyler blinked, surprise momentarily short-circuiting his usual efficiency. "Isabella? Did you say Isabella? Are you... are you sending me to meet her? Aren't you going to see her yourself?"

Theodore's eyes flared. "No more questions, Skyler. "I have said what I needed to say. Leave."

Skyler scooped up the box, a peculiar mix of curiosity and amusement flickering across his face. 'So, he's finally giving up on this enigmatic Isabella,' he murmured to himself, a sly smirk replacing his initial shock. 'Not bad.' Stuffing the box into his pocket, he exited the office.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Bella arrived in her hometown, it was already late. She hurried straight to Mrs. Green's house, a familiar knot of worry tightening in her chest. The sight that greeted her sent a jolt through her. Mrs. Green, once a picture of robust health, looked frail and shrunken. Bella's heart ached.

"Bella, you've come," Mrs. Green rasped, a cough wracking her thin frame. But despite her weakness, her grip on Bella's hands was surprisingly firm. "Listen to me closely, dear. These people you're dealing with, they're dangerous. Don't entangle yourself with them. Take my savings. Use it to pay off those debts."

Bella's eyes turned watery. "No, Mrs. Green, I can't take your money."

The old woman shook her head, a sad smile flickering on her lips. "Dear, I'm not getting any younger. My time here is limited." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "It's stage four stomach cancer."

A bitter smile spread across her lips. "I am dying," Mrs. Green confirmed, her voice devoid of fear. "I have no one but you and your mother. And knowing I can help you both makes me happy. My savings and this house should be enough to clear those debts. Just stay away from here, Bella. Go back to the city and live a good life."

Another coughing fit seized her, wracking her frail body.

"You will be alright, okay?" Bella interjected, patting her back. "I'll take you to the city for the best treatment. You'll be fine, won't you? And your savings, keep them. You'll need them for the treatment."

She blinked back the tears blurring her vision. "Don't worry about the debts. I already have a plan."

Mrs. Green's eyes widened in surprise. "You... you arranged the money?"

Bella nodded, a steely glint in her eyes. "I'm not going to repay what my stepfather owes. I'll only pay what's needed to get the house back." Her voice hardened with determination.

Mrs. Green's gaze softened with concern. "Bella, be careful, child. These are not people to trifle with."

"I am aware of my actions," Bella confidently stated. "All these years, I and my mother have been repaying his debts, but no more. I'm going to cut all ties with him."