The Contract Bride of Mr. Reid-Chapter 125: The compensation?

Claudia’s breath caught as she stepped into the executive ward, her eyes narrowing at the sight of Selena resting in the plush bed. A wave of bitterness surged within her, curling her lips into a tight, disdainful line. If it weren’t for Theodore’s influence, Claudia thought, this lowly woman would never have set foot in such an elite hospital, which the Reids owned, let alone occupied one of its most exclusive rooms

A smug look crossed her face as she turned to the frail woman on the bed.

Selena, startled by the unexpected visitor, blinked in confusion. She hesitated, then spoke with a polite curiosity. "Are you lost, Madam?" she asked politely, thinking the woman had entered wrongly.

Claudia’s smirk deepened as she stepped closer, her presence imposing. "Not at all," she replied coolly. "I’m exactly where I need to be, Mrs. Dawn."

The surprise on Selena’s face was unmistakable. "You know me!" she gasped, astonishment lacing her words.

"Of course I do," Claudia answered, dripping with condescension. "I’m Claudia, Theodore’s stepmother." She introduced herself, her haughtiness seeping out through every inch of her body.

"Oh!" Selena grinned. "I’m sorry... I didn’t recognize you. I wasn’t expecting a visit from you. What a surprise. Please forgive my lack of a proper greeting. Would you like to sit, Mrs. Reid?" She gestured to the plush sofa in the corner.

But Claudia remained standing, her cold gaze fixed on Selena. "I didn’t come here to sit and chat," she said sharply, her disdain palpable.

Selena’s smile faltered. She could feel the hostility radiating from Claudia, a prejudice she had encountered before. The room suddenly felt colder.

Selena could tell Claudia wasn’t happy with Theodore marrying Bella.

"I see," she murmured, her calm exterior barely hiding the revulsion brewing inside her.

She knew this type of person all too well—the wealthy who saw themselves as above everyone else, who believed that their social status granted them the right to look down on others. She maintained her composure, but the smile that had once graced her lips faded entirely.

"What brings you here, Mrs. Reid?" Selena’s voice, though low, carried a steely defiance.

Claudia’s response was swift and cruel. "To remind you who you are and what your place is," she said with contempt. "You couldn’t have afforded the hospital bills if it wasn’t for Theodore. Do you think someone as lowly as your daughter is qualified to be a part of the Reid household?"

Her posture was that of a queen addressing a peasant. She puffed out her chest and jutted her chin. "There’s still time to correct this mistake. Their marriage hasn’t been made public yet. Tell Bella to leave Theodore. We’ll compensate her handsomely."

The word "compensate" struck Selena like a slap, igniting a spark of anger that flickered in her eyes. Selena leveled the glare with her, her defiance turning to annoyance. She had seen how much Bella loved Theodore. Besides, Theodore seemed different. His love for Bella seemed not fake.

"This is their matter," Selena replied, her tone firm, not backing down an inch. "Why should I tell Bella to leave her husband? If Theodore doesn’t want to be with her, he’ll end the marriage himself. You don’t need to concern yourself with that."

Claudia snorted, her face twisting in disdain. The audacity of this woman to speak to her so boldly! But Claudia hadn’t come to argue; her goal was to plant seeds of doubt, to make Selena question her daughter’s future.

"Don’t fool yourself into thinking Theodore married Bella out of love," Claudia said with a cold certainty. "He is only with her because he is grateful she saved his life. Covering your medical expenses is just part of repaying that favor. But in his heart, there is only one woman who truly matters—Gina Willis, his childhood friend."

Selena’s heart plummeted, a cold dread settling deep in her stomach, twisting her insides into knots. It was as if the past had come back to mock her, cruelly replaying the same heartbreak she had once endured.

Her mind screamed in denial, ’This is not true. This can’t be true!’

Claudia’s lips curled into a sneer as she took in Selena’s devastated expression, savoring the impact of her words. "Gina and Theodore have known each other since childhood," she began. "They’ve always been close, and both families had already begun discussing their marriage. But then that unfortunate accident happened, and everything changed. Theodore felt obligated to repay Bella’s kindness."

She reached into her bag and pulled out a document, laying it on the bed. "Their marriage isn’t real, Mrs. Dawn. It’s a contract for a year—nothing more."

With trembling hands, Selena picked up the document, her eyes scanning the text in disbelief. Her vision blurred with tears as the reality of the situation hit her like a punch to the gut.

Bella had signed a contract to be Theodore’s wife, not out of love, but as a mere agreement. The words on the paper seemed to mock her, each line deepening the despair that threatened to overwhelm her.

Claudia’s voice cut through her spiraling thoughts like a blade. "When Theodore found out about Bella’s struggles to cover your treatment and repay the debts, he offered his help. But understand this—he wasn’t in love with her. That’s why he signed the contract, which will automatically end in a year."

Selena’s hands tightened around the paper, crumpling it into a ball as anger and sorrow warred within her. Why had Bella made such a rash decision? Why hadn’t she thought about her future?

She was angry with herself as well. How helpless she had become that she couldn’t even protect her daughter.

Claudia’s voice interrupted her tortured thoughts. "Now that you know the truth, take your daughter far away from here. She is still young and beautiful—she’ll find a man who truly loves her."

Selena’s fury surged, mingling with her despair. The future she had hoped for Bella seemed to unravel before her eyes, leaving her with nothing but questions and a deep, aching sense of failure.

Claudia, sensing that her words hadn’t fully broken Selena’s resolve, grew impatient. What if her attempts to manipulate the situation failed? She decided to strike where it would hurt most, delivering the final blow with calculated cruelty.

"You certainly wouldn’t want your abusive husband to harm your daughter, would you?" Claudia added. "I heard he kidnapped Bella last night and beat her terribly."

Selena’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with shock. "What?"

Claudia had expected correctly that Selena wasn’t aware of this incident. Joy erupted within her as she watched Selena’s flustered look. Still, she feigned shock, masking her inner triumph.

"You didn’t know!" she gasped. "Your husband kidnapped her and assaulted her. Bella’s in this very hospital, receiving treatment for her injuries. I assumed you already knew."