Pang of sympathy

Ivy fumed, clutching the phone tightly. Her plan had crumbled to dust. Her money was wasted. Those thugs failed to ruin Bella and this very thought infuriated her.

"Incompetent fools!" she spat. "You couldn't even handle a weak woman."

"This wasn't some ordinary woman, madam," the gruff voice said from the other side of the phone, laced with irritation. "She has a strong backup. We have been working here for all those years without a hitch. But now, my men and the gang are facing terrible problems. It's all because of that man who came to save Bella."

"Who is he?" Ivy demanded, surprise flickering across her face. How could Bella, that nobody from a small town, have garnered such powerful support?

"We have no idea who he is," the man said with a sigh, lamenting cooperating with Ivy. "We shouldn't have agreed to help you in the first place. We are now in this mess because of you. If I get caught, I'll expose you."

The call ended abruptly, leaving Ivy seething with rage. She clenched her phone tightly, her knuckles turning white. The audacity of those men to blame her for their incompetence was infuriating. She had paid them well, expecting them to execute her plan flawlessly. Instead, they had failed miserably and then dared to threaten her.

"Ugh…" A groan rumbled from Ivy's throat. Clenching her teeth, she muttered, "Bella, why are you so annoying?" She dropped the phone aside, fuming with anger.

Ivy's mind raced as she considered her next move. This gang leader was now a significant threat to her. If she was exposed, she would lose Zack. Their relationship would crumble. The thought sent a tremor through her.

"No, no… This can't happen." A hint of dread crept into her voice. "I have to silence this man. There has to be a way."

Ivy snatched the phone back, her finger hovering over a familiar number. A single tap initiated the call. "I need your help," she spoke urgently. "Get rid of that gang leader. He is threatening me."

A smooth, reassuring voice filled her ear. "Don't worry, Miss Ivy. Nothing will happen to you."

Ivy heaved a sigh of relief as she ended the call. A cold glint flickered in her eyes. "I'll handle you myself, Bella."

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

On the way to the mansion, Bella glanced at Theodore from time to time. She wanted to confirm if he was the mysterious man, but she couldn't muster her courage to start a conversation, observing his gloomy face.

After a long silence, Theodore started talking about his family.

"My stepmom is a bit annoying," he warned. "She might poke and prod, but just stay calm, alright? All you have to care about is my grandpa. He is the family head, the only one that truly matters to me."

Bella's curiosity piqued. "So... there is only Grandpa and your stepmom in the house! What about your father?"

The mention of his father sent a flicker of darkness across Theodore's features. Their relationship had always been strained ever since his father had brought a stepmother into the family after divorcing his mother. However, he no longer held any grudges against him. Time had softened the sharp edges of resentment.

"He is dead," he said simply, his voice flat.

"I'm sorry." Bella felt a pang of empathy. The loss of a parent was a wound she understood all too well. Her own father had passed away too soon, and her stepfather was a cruel man. She could feel his pain.

"Don't worry about it," he said, forcing a smile. "It's all in the past." His thoughts drifted momentarily, lost in the memories of his parents' bitter divorce.

"I have a sister," he continued. "But she lives elsewhere. Mom took her during the divorce. I wanted to go with them, but Dad... he kept me with him. He wanted me to carry on the family legacy."

A shadow of bitterness crept across his face, a glimpse of the anger and resentment that still simmered beneath the surface. "Sometimes, I wonder what could have been," he mused, "if I had gone with my mom. Maybe things would have been different— more freedom, less pressure."

Bella remained silent, absorbing the weight of his words. She could sense the deep-seated pain and longing in his voice.

Theodore's grip tightened on the steering wheel. "But that's not how things turned out," he continued. "I had to stay and become the man my father wanted me to be, for better or worse."

For the first time, Bella felt a pang of sympathy for him. She had previously thought that money could bring happiness and peace in her life. But looking at Theodore, her misconception was broken. With all his resources, Theodore yearned for the same peace and contentment she sought.

They were not quite different, it seemed.

"I have a half-brother," Theodore continued with a hint of disgust. "A wastrel, arrogant and notorious for disrespecting everyone around him. All he knows is spending money and partying with his cronies." He turned to her, his expression hardening. "Stay far away from that man."

A jolt ran down Bella's spine under his warning glare. She quickly nodded and agreed to stay away from his half-brother.

The rest of the journey passed in a tense silence. By the time they reached the imposing Reid mansion, dusk had already settled. The sky was ablaze with flamboyant streaks of pink and orange.

As they approached the grand entrance, Bella's legs turned to lead. The prospect of meeting Theodore's family sent a tremor of nervousness through her. Anticipation and fear wrestled for dominance in her stomach.

Suddenly, Theodore's arm snaked around her waist, pulling her close as they stepped into the foyer. Bella's breath hitched in her throat. Her wide eyes met his.

What did this sudden gesture mean?

"We are in love with each other," he murmured. "That's what they should think."

Bella blinked dazedly. The musky citrus scent of his cologne filled her senses, intoxicating her. Despite knowing it was just an act, she couldn't stop her heart from racing. At that very moment, a few images of herself clinging to him and pressing her lips against his throat swam in her vision.

Her eyelashes fluttered down, a blush creeping up her cheeks as her gaze darted to his exposed throat. The sudden heat of it all felt utterly forbidden.

Theodore leaned over and whispered in her ear in a teasing tone, "I like it when you blush."

Instinctively, Bella reached to push away the hand resting possessively on her waist, only to find it tighten its hold.

"Don't move," he cautioned. A flicker of movement caught his eye. "Grandpa is coming."

Bella, already frozen in surprise, didn't even dare to twitch. Theodore leaned down further and placed a soft kiss on the crown of her head.

A ghost of a smile played on Malcolm's stoic features.