The Contract Bride of Mr. Reid-Chapter 197: Bella’s request

Bella was momentarily speechless. Who from the family would come to visit her? Grandfather was too frail to leave the mansion, and neither Claudia nor Franklin cared whether she lived or died. Willow had been with her all day but left once Bridget and Joe arrived.

Theodore, she thought, would’ve stayed by her side if he hadn’t been tied up with an important meeting.

"I haven’t been alone," she finally replied. "Friends and family have been here. But I asked everyone to leave. I needed some time alone."

It wasn’t entirely a lie. Bridget and Joe had been reluctant to leave her side, but Bella, overwhelmed with emotion, had asked them to give her space. She was too emotional to continue the conversation with them.

However, Zack didn’t buy it. He could tell how she was hiding the fact. A knowing smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, steering the conversation away.

"The pain is still there," Bella admitted, "but it’s manageable." She glanced at him, forcing a small smile. "I appreciate you coming to see me. It means a lot."

"Bella, if I could, I’d stay with you all day," Zack said, his tone suddenly desperate. He leaned forward, his eyes full of intensity. "I’d do anything for you. Let me be your protector—your partner."

Bella’s discomfort deepened at his words. She turned her gaze away, feeling awkward at his closeness. This wasn’t the conversation she wanted to have. She needed to steer it in a different direction.

"I’ve been thinking about joining Willow’s fashion house," she said abruptly. "I’ll submit my resignation. This time, I need you to accept it."

Zack’s eyes flickered with frustration, but he masked it quickly. He could sense her reluctance, but he wasn’t ready to give up. He’d pursue her relentlessly; certain he could make her his in time. "Fine, I’ll accept your resignation," he murmured.

It was not an issue anymore. Bella would be still around him whether she stayed or resigned.

"Do you need something? Are you hungry? What do you want to eat? Tell me...I’ll bring that for you." He was desperate to do something for her – anything.

Bella fell silent. She wasn’t hungry at all, but his words depressed her. The emptiness of the hospital room seemed to echo her feelings—she should have had her husband here with her, comforting and caring for her. But he was missing since last night. He hadn’t even come to see her this morning. His absence made her question whether he was angry with her or simply avoiding her.

Bella thought Theodore was upset because she hadn’t told him about her pregnancy. Or maybe he blamed her for going to the bar. These thoughts only added to her already disturbed mind.

Seeing her spacing out, Zack waved his hand in front of her face pulling her back to the present. "Bella, are you okay? Do you want something to eat? Maybe some fruit?"

Bella blinked. "No, I’m not hungry," she replied softly. "Willow has been taking care of me since this morning."

"Willow!" Zack scoffed bitterly. He couldn’t understand why Bella liked Willow, the woman her husband liked. "Someone from the Reid family should be here with you, but it seems like none of them care, not even your husband. Do they really care about you?"

Bella considered correcting him about Willow’s connection to the Reids but decided against it. Willow had always distanced herself from the family and didn’t like to be called a part of it. She didn’t tell him either that Willow was Theodore’s sister. Instead, she said, "Willow is like family—very close to Theodore’s heart."

Zack was taken aback. It seemed Bella had come to accept Willow’s place in Theodore’s life, perhaps resigning herself to the idea of a marriage that might not last. Zack’s hope momentarily brightened, but it was quickly overshadowed by Bella’s next words.

"Theodore loves me," Bella continued. "He takes care of my needs. He has just been caught up in an important meeting."

Zack’s heart ached at Bella’s attempt to hide Theodore’s affairs with Willow. He was sad. As long as she was with him, she wouldn’t be able to express her feelings freely.

"I get it," he mumbled, suppressing the pain deep down. "Good to know that both Willow and Theodore are taking care of you. But I am also here by your side. Call me if you need anything." As he rose from the chair, he smiled at her. "Get well soon. I want you at work soon."

With that, he exited the ward.

Left alone, Bella sighed deeply and lay back in her hospital bed. She was tired – both mentally and physically. She wanted to take a break, to get away from the relentless pressures and worries of her current life. Maybe she should stay with her mother for a few days. Perhaps a change of environment might offer some solace and a chance to heal.

Just minutes after Zack’s departure, Theodore arrived at the hospital. He walked briskly into Bella’s ward, expecting to find Willow still there. Instead, he saw Bella alone, absorbed in her phone. He was a bit annoyed and felt a pang of guilt.

When Bella saw him entering, she put the phone aside and welcomed him with a smile. "You are finally back."

Theodore approached her and embraced her gently. "I’m sorry for not being here sooner. I asked Willow to stay with you until I could return. Where is she?"

He scowled, displeased.

"Don’t blame her," she mumbled. "It’s not her fault. I asked her to leave."

Theodore pulled back and squinted down at her, confused, "Why? Why would you do that?"

Bella responded with a comforting smile, "Bridget and Joe came to visit me, and the nurse wouldn’t let so many people in at once. I thought it was best to have Willow go. Besides, Willow had other things to do. It’s fine. I’m glad you’re here now."

"But I am not at ease to see you alone. Why didn’t you call me?"

"I wanted to stay alone," Bella murmured, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her expression turned solemn, the smile on her face disappearing.

Theodore sat down next to her, his gaze softening. He could feel her pain. "Don’t overthink things," he comforted her, caressing her hair. "We’ll get through this, and we’ll have children in the future."

Bella was silent for a moment before finally speaking. "I want to be with Mamma for a few days."

Theodore stiffened at the suggestion. The idea of her leaving, even for a short time, unsettled him deeply. "Why? Why do you want to go there?" he asked, his voice betraying the undercurrent restlessness. "Are you upset with me?"

Bella shook her head, grasping his hands. "No, I’m not upset. It’s just that everything is so overwhelming right now. I need some space to heal. If I stay here, I can’t move past what happened."

Theodore wasn’t convinced. His face clouded with worry. The idea of staying alone without Bella was something he wouldn’t entertain. "How about this? I’ll have the driver to bring your mom here. She can stay with us as long as she wants."

He thought it was the best idea. He offered her a hopeful smile, but Bella’s response quickly extinguished his optimism.

"No, she won’t come. She has her bakery to take care of. I will go there and help her at her work."

Theodore’s smile froze in the corners of his lips. His heart raced anxiously when he could see his attempts to persuade her not working.

"It’s only a few days," Bella reassured him gently, sensing his hesitation to let her go away. "I’ll be back before you know it."

Theodore chuckled with a trace of sadness. The very idea of being apart from Bella was unbearable, and he couldn’t fathom how he’d manage without her presence. He wished he could command her not to leave. But he understood Bella’s mental state.

The incident had shaken her and she needed time to heal. Maybe with her mother, she would heal fast. Reluctantly, he nodded in agreement.

"Alright, you can go."

"Thank you." Bella’s face brightened with a grateful smile as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Meanwhile, outside the hospital, Zack ran into Gina. For a brief moment, he was surprised to see her, wondering if she had come to visit Bella. However, he quickly masked his curiosity with a façade of indifference. "Miss Willis, are you here to see Bella?"

Gina smirked. ’She is not worthy of my attention,’ she thought.

"No," she said coldly. "I don’t bother with pretenses. That woman is my beloved’s wife. Why would I care about her? I’m here for a regular check-up." Her words were delivered with a scornful edge.

She paused, her eyes narrowing as she continued. "It’s obvious you’re here for her. If you’re genuinely concerned, why aren’t you doing more for her?"