The Contract Bride of Mr. Reid-Chapter 100: Bastard child!

A calculated glint flickered in Franklin’s eyes. "I feel sorry for you, Mr. Dawn," he said with a calculative tone. "A man with a kind heart like myself can’t bear to see another suffer. Consider this a stroke of luck. I’m willing to help you with those of your financial burdens."

Lionel’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Really? You’d give me money?"

Franklin nodded. "Yes. You’ll need to work for it."

"Anything, sir! Absolutely anything!" Gratitude dripped from Lionel’s every word.

Franklin reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash, slapping it into Lionel’s eager hand. "Consider this a token of good faith. I’ll be in touch with you and let you know what you have to do, alright?"

Lionel’s eyes sparkled with greed. He had not seen so much cash together. Perhaps, he thought, his financial woes were finally over.

"I can do anything for you, sir!" he declared enthusiastically. "Just give the word!"

"Now get out of my car," Franklin commanded. "Don’t ever mention to anyone about this meeting. Or else, you will die."

A shiver ran down Lionel’s spine. "You have my word, sir. Not a single breath." With that, he practically tumbled out of the Range Rover, scurrying away like a frightened rabbit.

Franklin watched his retreating, a cold smile twisting his lips. "The game is getting more and more interesting," he murmured with a hint of amusement.

~~~~~~~~~

At Theodore’s villa...

Bella pressed the phone against her ear as she waited for Mrs. Green to answer it.

"Hello?" A voice, reedy and thin, punctuated by a series of dry coughs, filled Bella’s heart with dread.

"Mrs. Green?" she blurted out, worry etching lines across her forehead.

"Bella?" Mrs. Green rasped; her voice seemed to come from the bottom of a well. "Is that you, dear?"

"Yes, it’s me! I’m so sorry about everything," Bella apologized profusely, guilt twisting in her gut. "You are in this mess because of me. If you hadn’t stopped Lionel, he wouldn’t have turned on you like this."

A strained cough erupted from the other end of the line, rattling in Mrs. Green’s chest. "Don’t blame yourself, dear," Mrs. Green wheezed between coughs, her voice like dry leaves rustling in the wind. "It wasn’t your fault. Just stay safe, Bella. Lionel has lost his mind. He can do anything to hurt you."

"He won’t hurt us again," Bella declared firmly with resolve, a steely glint hardening in her eyes. "I won’t let him."

A beat of silence followed, broken only by the labored sound of Mrs. Green’s breathing. "Where are you staying now?" Bella pressed.

Mrs. Green suppressed her coughing. She wouldn’t let her know she was at the hospital. She was already dying, and she wouldn’t want to add more trouble to Bella.

"The neighbors are quite helpful," she said slowly. "They are taking care of me. Don’t be concerned. Look after your mother. How is she doing?" She coughed again.

A pang of guilt stabbed at Bella’s heart. She had been so consumed with her problems that she hadn’t paid enough attention to Mrs. Green’s suffering. "Mom’s surgery went well," she replied quickly. "She’ll be alright soon. But you," her voice hitched, the words catching in her throat, "you need to take care of yourself. You sound terrible."

Mrs. Green let out a soft, shaky laugh, the sound devoid of mirth. "Just getting old, that’s all," she said dismissively, trying to brush off Bella’s concern. "I’ll be alright here. You focus on your mother. She has been through a lot. Don’t let that scoundrel cause her more pain." Her voice dropped to a near whisper, laced with urgency as she spoke the next words. "And Bella, stay away from Lionel, and don’t ever give him money."

A sudden, violent coughing fit seized Mrs. Green. Blood spilled out of her mouth. She quickly grabbed a tissue from the side table and wiped her mouth.

"Mrs. Green? Mrs. Green!" she shouted. The image of the frail woman wracked with coughs, possibly alone and helpless, sent a knot of apprehension twisting in her stomach. "Are you okay? Is there anyone to help you?"

With trembling fingers, Mrs. Green brought the phone back to her ear. "Bella!" Her voice was hoarse from coughing. "I am hanging up now. I am a bit tired."

"Okay, okay rest now."

Beep

Bella stared at the phone in her hand, a sense of helplessness washing over her. She desperately needed to see Mrs. Green, to ensure her well-being. At the same time, she was worried Lionel would go to the hospital and trouble her mother. She couldn’t leave her mother alone.

A fleeting thought of seeking help from Theodore crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it. She had seen him rushing to work that morning. And now, upon returning from the hospital, he had locked himself in the study. Adding to his already overflowing plate was out of the question.

Taking a deep breath, Bella squared her shoulders, a flicker of determination replacing the fear. "I’ll ask Bridget and Joe."

Her fingers flew across the phone screen, composing a quick message to Bridget. ’Hey, can you come to the hospital tomorrow? I need to talk to you about something.’ With a tap, the message zipped away into the digital ether.

Bridget’s reply arrived almost instantly: ’Alright, bestie. I’ll be there.’

A small smile tugged at Bella’s lips as she typed back, ’See you tomorrow then.’

She was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn’t hear Theodore’s approach. Suddenly, strong arms were around her, enveloping her in a warmth that momentarily chased away her worries.

"Who are you chatting with?" he asked, his voice a low rumble next to her ear.

"Bridget," she replied, turning to him and looking into his eyes. She pulled a smile, hiding her distress. "Is your work finished?"

Theodore’s face fell slightly. He felt a pang of guilt for not spending more time with her, especially on a Sunday. "Sorry. I should have stayed with you at the hospital," he murmured apologetically. "But I’ll try to find more time for you."

"Don’t say sorry," she interrupted. "I know you are busy, and I don’t want you to neglect your job to be with me."

She understood the importance of his work and never wanted to be an obstacle for him. Instead, she wanted to be his pillar of support.

Theodore smiled, his gaze softening with love. He was touched by how considerate she was. Bella had not complained or whined about his absence.

He gently caressed her cheek. "Are you tired?" he asked softly.

"A bit," she whispered.

"Let’s go to sleep then." With a sudden move, he lifted her off her feet, surprising Bella.

She gasped, clinging to his shoulders. "Theodore, you don’t have to—"

"I want to," he cut her off, carrying her toward the bed. "You’ve had a long day. Let me take care of you."

A delicious anticipation fluttered in her stomach. What would he do next? The memory of their intimacy, the electricity that sparked between them, danced at the edges of her mind.

Theodore lowered her gently onto the plush surface, his eyes lingering on hers. He reached out, his fingers brushing a stray strand of hair off her cheek before tucking it behind her ear. A small smile played on his lips.

"If you keep looking at me like this, I’ll lose control," he whispered.

Bella’s cheeks burned a brilliant crimson. The suggestive meaning behind his words was clear. Her eyelids fluttered shut, a shy smile gracing her lips.

Theodore chuckled softly. He leaned in, pressing a chaste kiss to her forehead. "Sleep now," he whispered against her skin. He kept running his fingers through her hair until he confirmed that she had drifted into sleep.