The Contract Bride of Mr. Reid-Chapter 105: I won’t leave Bella.

Theodore didn’t expect this from his grandfather. His cruel words were like a blow that hit his heart hard, almost knocking the air out of his lungs.

Theodore, fists clenched at his sides, glared at his grandfather. The elder man’s face, usually a stoic mask of power, was flushed with anger.

A strange cocktail of agony and annoyance churned within him.

"You only care about her family background," he hissed with bitterness in his tone. "You only consider her an illegitimate child. "Is it her fault her father left? She is innocent in all this!"

Drawing in a sharp breath, Theodore squared his shoulders, defiance hardening his features. "I will never leave her," he declared with newfound resolve. "You may forget she saved my life, but I haven’t."

"I also remember that," Malcolm barked a response, annoyance morphing into fury. "But that doesn’t mean you have to marry her. We’ll be eternally grateful and compensate her handsomely. She won’t face any trouble in this life. But she can’t be part of this family."

"She is the only one I want," Theodore retorted vehemently, his demeanor hardening with defiance.

Malcolm’s face reddened further with anger. "Theodore," he shouted, his veins in his neck bulging. "You are the president of the Ace Group. You have a huge responsibility. If word gets out your wife’s a bastard, it’ll ruin us all! The business, our reputation... People will never stop gossiping. Can you bear that? Hearing your wife called... an illegitimate child?"

"Stop calling her that!" Theodore thundered, his fists trembling on his sides. "I don’t care what you or anyone else thinks! All I care about is Bella. I love her, and nothing, not even you, can tear us apart."

The room fell silent, the air thick with tension. Malcolm’s expression hardened, a mix of disappointment and anger etched into his features. Theodore stood tall, his resolve unshaken, ready to defend his love against anyone who dared challenge it.

"I have said what I have to say. I’ll leave now." Theodore spun on his heel to leave.

A barked command, "Stop right there!" from Malcolm froze him in his tracks.

Claudia and Franklin, who had been silent observers throughout the tense exchange, exchanged a sly glance. A triumphant smirk played on their lips.

Malcolm, who had always favored Theodore over Franklin, was finally on the warpath with his golden boy. This, they believed, would drive a permanent wedge between grandfather and grandson. Anticipation bubbled within them as they watched, eager to see how Theodore would react.

Theodore remained rooted to the spot, his back ramrod straight, a mask of icy fury replacing his previous defiance. He didn’t deign to turn and face his grandfather.

Malcolm’s roar echoed in the opulent room. "If you set foot outside this mansion, I’ll disown you! I’ll throw you out of the company!"

A look of pure shock crossed Claudia and Franklin’s faces as their eyes met. The sudden turn of events left them stunned, joy bursting through them. It seemed as if their long-cherished dream would come to be realized. The thought of the entire Reid fortune falling into their laps was exhilarating.

Theodore took a deep breath, his mind racing. He had always known his grandfather’s temper, but this was a different level of fury. He turned slowly, facing Malcolm with a look of steely determination. A sneer twisted Theodore’s lips, bitterness filling his mouth.

"I don’t care," he said indifferently. "Even if you disown me, the company will remain mine. Over the years, I worked hard and became the majority shareholder. You can’t throw me out."

His gaze raked across Claudia and Franklin, his eyes glinting with a dangerous challenge. "I won’t leave Bella," he declared. He burned with the desire to expose their duplicity, to tear them from their comfortable perch within the Reid family. "If you dare target her, consider it an act of war. Don’t come crying to me about cruelty then."

With that threat hanging in the air, he stormed out.

"Ugh!" Malcolm slumped back in his chair, a groan escaping his lips. First, Theodore had refused to marry any of the women Malcolm had chosen for him. Now he had married someone with such an unacceptable background.

Frustration gnawed at him. Malcolm racked his hair. He had pinned such hopes on Theodore, always seeing him as the heir apparent, the one with the talent and vision to lead the Reid Corporation to even greater heights. Theodore’s choices, however, had left him sorely disappointed.

Meanwhile, Claudia and Franklin exchanged triumphant glances. The confrontation had gone better than they had hoped, and they eagerly anticipated the next steps in their plan.

Defeat hung heavy in the air after Theodore’s dramatic exit. "When will he ever give me peace?" Malcolm muttered, slumping further into the sofa.

Franklin, ever the opportunist, saw his chance. He sidled closer to his father, his voice adopting a soothing tone. "Don’t be so upset, Grandpa. Let me handle this matter."

Malcolm eyed him with suspicion, his narrowed gaze lingering for a beat too long.

"Yes, father," Claudia chimed in. "Theodore is always been headstrong. Pushing him will only drive him further away. We need to be tactful."

Her words compelled Malcolm to contemplate his approach to Theodore. Perhaps he had been too heavy-handed. A calmer approach might have yielded better results.

"Did I mess up?" he wondered.

"Leave it to us, Father," Claudia assured him, a glint in her eye.

"Yes, Grandpa," Franklin echoed enthusiastically. "Leave this matter to me. Right now, Theodore is under the burden of gratitude. That’s why he is unwilling to leave her. Force won’t work. Instead, I’ll find out everything about this Bella."

A sly smile played on Claudia’s lips. "If Theodore won’t leave her," she suggested, "perhaps we can persuade Bella to leave him. Money talks, Father, and we have plenty of it. I’m confident I can make her see reason."

Malcolm sighed, weariness etched on his face. "Do whatever you want, but don’t hurt that woman. Remember, she saved Theodore’s life. Treat her with respect."

"We’ll keep that in mind, father," Claudia assured him, a calculating glint in her eye.

Malcolm nodded slowly, feeling a mixture of resignation and hope that they might handle the situation better than he had. He stood up and headed to his room, his mind heavy.

Claudia watched him go, a sneer twisting her features. The moment the door shut behind him, she whirled on Franklin, her gaze sharp.

"Mom, that was our chance!" Franklin hissed, his brow furrowed in frustration. "Why’d you have to assure him we wouldn’t hurt that woman?"

"Have patience, darling," she said calmly, smiling meaningfully. "Rash moves will jeopardize everything. We need both Theodore and Malcolm for now. The old man still holds twenty percent of the company’s shares. And don’t forget Gina’s little ambition to be Theodore’s wife. Once her wish is fulfilled, we’ll get rid of both of them."

A slow grin spread across Franklin’s face, erasing his earlier annoyance. "You are a genius, Mom. I’ll listen to you."