The Contract Bride of Mr. Reid-Chapter 116: The deception

Bella walked aimlessly along the pavement, her mind reeling from Claudia’s words. She desperately wanted to deny what Claudia had said, to dismiss the damning photograph as a cruel fabrication. Yet, a part of her knew deep down that those photographs were not lies.

She couldn’t deny the fact that she and Theodore were from different worlds and believed an ordinary woman like her wasn’t suitable to be his wife.

Driven by a fierce determination to prove herself worthy of him, she had poured her heart and soul into her career. Success would be her armor, her way of showing Theodore that she was capable, that she could stand beside him as an equal. But now, the image of Theodore and Gina together shattered her resolve, compelling her to reconsider their relationship.

Bella had thought Theodore had not returned home last night because he had been with his grandfather, but it turned out that he had been seeking solace from Gina. If he needed support, why hadn’t he reached out to her? Instead, he had ignored her calls.

The realization hit her like a tidal wave. "He was with her," she whispered. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the cold pavement, tears streaming down her face like a torrential downpour. "Theodore, are you lying to me?" she mumbled between the sobs.

An overwhelming pain consumed her, but a flicker of hope remained. Part of her refused to believe that Theodore would cheat on her. She had seen his loathing for Gina. Those photographs couldn’t be real. Even if it was real, she wouldn’t believe it until she talked to him,

"No...he won’t lie to me," she said with confidence. "I need to talk to him."

With trembling hands, she wiped her tears away and dialed his number. Each ring was a fresh wave of anxiety and anticipation. When the call went unanswered, despair washed over her. "Are you with Gina again?" she thought, her heart heavy with sorrow.

Bella looked down at the phone, fresh tears filling her eyes. ’Are you with Gina again?’ she thought.

On the other hand, Theodore had arrived at the hospital with a sense of urgency, eager to personally review the test results. He was so consumed in his thoughts that he had left the phone on the dashboard, completely forgetting about it. He rushed into Gary’s cabin. oblivious to the fact that Bella was calling him.

Gary was surprised to see him. "Theo! Is everything okay?" Gary asked with concern. He assumed Malcolm’s condition had taken a turn for the worse.

"I’m here for the report," Theodore replied firmly.

Gary’s demeanor shifted, and his gaze dropped. "I told you I’d send it to your office," he mumbled, pulling a file from the drawer. "You didn’t have to come over personally for such a trivial matter."

Theodore’s frown deepened. "Trivial? This is about my grandfather. How can it be trivial?"

"Relax, Theo..." Gary met Theodore’s gaze, his heart pounding in his chest. "I know you’re worried about Grandpa," he began, "and I was worried too. But the test results are clear. Nothing suspicious is found," Gary announced, his gaze unwavering, but his heart sinking for lying to his friend.

"What?" Theodore’s confusion grew. "How could that be possible? Are you sure nothing is wrong?"

Gary took a deep breath. "I know you are skeptical, Theo, but the results are negative. There is no cause for concern."

He pushed the file toward him.

Theodore took the file, his eyes scanning the contents with disbelief. Gary watched, his heart heavy with guilt, hoping his friend wouldn’t see through the charade.

Theodore’s eyes scanned the numbers and figures. Everything seemed normal except for a slight elevation in blood pressure.

"At his age, it’s easy for him to fall ill," Gary explained with a hint of forced reassurance. "But he is doing well now. Just keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn’t stress."

Theodore slammed the file shut, his anger palpable. "I don’t believe this," he growled. "Claudia was setting me up with Gina. This is all her doing. You need to run these tests again."

Gary sighed, helpless frustration simmering within him. "The results won’t change no matter how many times you run the tests. You need to accept it."

Theodore glared at him, his chest heaving with anger. He snatched up the file and stormed out of the office.

Gary slumped in his chair, his face a mask of despair. "I’m sorry, Theo," he murmured. "I couldn’t tell you the truth."

The weight of his deception was heavy on his conscience. He had to protect his wife, but he couldn’t bear the thought of lying to his friend.

"I hope you can find a way to punish them," he added, a glimmer of hope flickering in his eyes.

The phone on his desk buzzed, startling him. Franklin’s name flashed across the screen. His heart pounded as he answered. "Hello?"

"I saw Theodore storming out of your office," Franklin said with a warning in his tone. "What did you tell him?"

"I said nothing, I swear," Gary choked out, his voice trembling. "He is upset because the results aren’t what he expected. Please, let my wife go."

Franklin’s tone was laced with menace. "You know what happens if you betray me, Gary. Don’t test my patience."

"Trust me...I am not playing with you, please..."

There was a brief silence before Franklin replied. "Alright, I’ll believe you this time. But don’t cross me again."

Beep

The line went dead, leaving Gary shaken and in a state of tense apprehension, staring blankly at the phone. He felt trapped and helpless,

Gary leaned forward, his elbows crashing onto the table as he cradled his head in his hands. Silent tears streamed down his face, his shoulders shaking with suppressed sobs.

He had betrayed Theodore, a man who had been more than a friend – who had helped him always, trusted him like a brother, and made him the MD of his family hospital. Yet, here he was, a liar, protecting his wife at the cost of their friendship.

He lamented his actions. His helplessness made him feel like he was useless.

The sharp ring of his phone pierced through the haze of his despair. His heart pounded as he glanced at the screen. His wife’s name was displayed. He answered immediately.

"Hello? Honey! Are you alright?"

"Gary, I am scared," his wife sobbed.

"Did they leave?" he asked, already on his feet.

"Yes, they just left."

"I am coming, okay? Just hang on there." With a surge of adrenaline, he rushed out of the office.