The Contract Bride of Mr. Reid-Chapter 209: Why do you accuse me of cheating?

After finishing her work for the day, Bella left the office. Her steps were heavy, her eyes vacant. She had made up her mind. Since Theodore didn’t have faith in her, she wouldn’t stay at his villa.

As she walked out of the office building, she dialed Bridget’s number. The call was connected after a few rings.

"Hey, Bella...how are you feeling now?" Bridget asked, her worry palpable in her tone. "Do you still have pain?"

Bella’s eyes welled up with tears. The physical pain had gone, but the ache in her heart was taking her breath away. She felt as if she was lost, nowhere to go.

"Can I stay with you for a few days?" she asked, her voice breaking.

Bridget could tell something was wrong with her friends. "Of course, dear. That’s your home. You can stay with us as long as you want. But what happened? Why are you crying? Did – did you fight Theodore?"

The mention of Theodore brought more tears to her eyes. Bella struggled to speak. "It’s – Grandpa had a heart attack." She wanted to tell her about Theodore’s suspicion but she changed the words at the end.

"Oh! I am sorry. Okay, don’t be concerned. Everything will be fine. Come to my place."

Bella nodded and slipped the phone back into her bag. Just as she looked for a taxi, a car rolled over and stopped in front of her.

It was Zack’s Ferrari. The glass of the window rolled down, and Zack’s face revealed to Bella’s view.

"Get in," Zack said. "I’ll drop you home."

Bella hesitated for a moment, her heart torn between her fears of Theodore’s anger and her desire to apologize to Zack for not keeping her promise.

With a deep breath, Bella opened the car door and slid into the passenger seat. "Thank you," she murmured, forcing a smile.

"You are welcome," Zack smiled back at her. The engine roared in the next second, and the car ran away.

Theodore, who had come to check on Bella, saw the scene. He was angry and hurt at the same time. He had been avoiding her for the past two days, unsure of how to face her. Today, his longing for her overwhelmed him and he had finally come to see her, hoping to take her home. But when he saw her getting into Zack’s car, something inside him shattered.

The hurt came first, sharp and piercing, followed by anger. A sense of betrayal overwhelmed him, even though he still believed it wasn’t true. He wanted to shout, to pull her out of that car, to demand answers.

Theodore clenched the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white from the pressure. His chest heaved as he tried to keep his emotions under control.

"How can I even think about that?" he chided himself. He wouldn’t let this idea fester in his mind that Bella was unfaithful to him. "It’s not what it looks like," he assured himself. "They just have a professional relationship."

Even though he said that his heart still hurt. Knowing Zack’s feelings for Bella only made the sight more unbearable. His heart ached at the thought of her finding comfort in another man, even if it was just an innocent ride. The mixture of disappointment, anger, and hurt swirled violently within him.

Inside Zack’s car...

Bella felt a strange mix of surprise and relief at his warm smile. She had expected frustration or resentment, but instead, he looked genuinely cheerful, as if all was forgiven. Still, she felt compelled to apologize to him.

"I’m really sorry about the other day," she began. "I didn’t mean to let you down. You’re not upset with me, are you?"

Zack turned to her, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Do you care if I’m upset?" His question was playful yet probing.

Caught off guard, Bella blinked, unsure what to say.

Zack quickly added, "Honestly, yes, I was a bit upset. But it’s all good now." He brushed off the moment, eager to keep the mood light.

The anger he had felt had vanished, replaced by a simmering excitement at the thought of strengthening their connection.

"I understand your concern for your husband," he added, concealing his real intention. "You did the right thing in the given situation. And when you’re ready, I’d love for you to show me around the town. We’ll have plenty of time for that." He cast her a sidelong glance, a smile playing on his lips, and Bella couldn’t help but feel a flutter of relief.

"Yes, we will," she replied, allowing herself to relax. She turned her head to the outside and noticed the car was heading to Theodore’s villa. It was at this point she recalled she had planned to stay with Bridget and Joe for a few days.

"I actually meant to go to Bridget’s place," she said, glancing back at Zack.

His heart raced at her words, excitement bubbling beneath the surface. The prospect of her staying away from Theodore filled him with hope. It seemed like the cracks in her marriage were widening, and he could be there to fill the void.

Despite his excitement, he maintained his calm demeanor as he turned the wheel. "Alright, I’ll take you to your friend’s place."

When Bella arrived at Bridget’s apartment, she was met with her friend’s warm embrace. The moment Bridget held her, the dam broke, and Bella’s tears flowed freely.

"What is happening, Bella?" Bridget’s brow furrowed with concern as she gently patted Bella’s back. "Why are you sad?"

Through choked sobs, Bella spilled her heart. "Theodore’s grandfather had a heart attack. Claudia showed him photos of me with Zack, which triggered the heart attack. I know it’s all part of her plan to drive a wedge between me and Theodore. She is trying to paint me as the unfaithful wife."

"What a monster!" Bridget’s voice rose in disbelief. "What’s her problem? Why can’t she just leave you both alone?"

"She is always scheming against me. It’s not surprising at all." Bella shook her head in disappointment. "But what hurts the most is Theodore’s reaction." Her voice broke again. "He suspects I’m cheating on him."

Bridget’s shock was evident, her mouth dropping open. "What? How could he think that?"

"He didn’t even call me. When I reached out, he said he didn’t need my concern," Bella recounted, her heart heavy. "He is angry with me—maybe even hates me."

Bridget clenched her fists, anger radiating from her. "How can he suspect you after everything? You took a knife for him! It’s ridiculous! Don’t forgive him for this."

The fire in Bridget’s voice ignited as she continued, "I thought he was loving and sensible. But clearly, he is gullible! A few photographs could shake his trust in you. If he is this insecure, who knows what he’ll think if he sees you with anyone else, even Joe?"

Her mouth contorted in fury. "This isn’t healthy, Bella. You need to take this seriously. Maybe you should rethink your marriage. His behavior is toxic, and it’s not good for you."

Bella listened, her heart aching. Everything Bridget had said was true, but Bella was nervous. She was hopelessly in love with Theodore. The thought of breaking up with him tore at her heart. She wouldn’t survive without him.

With a heavy sigh, she pulled away, hastily wiping her tears. "I think I need to lie down. I have a headache."

"Go and rest. Your room is ready."

Once inside her room, Bella locked the door and sank onto the bed, her emotions crashing over her like a tidal wave. She reached for her phone, heart racing as she hoped for a message from Theodore. But there was none. Her heart shattered ever more.

"Why are you doing this to me?" she whimpered. "Why aren’t you talking to me?" Curling into a tight ball, she let her sobs escape, each one shaking her body with grief. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

~~~~~~~~~~~

Bella came to the villa early in the morning, intending to grab some important documents before heading to work. The sight of Theodore in the hall, sipping coffee and focused on his phone, caught her off guard. She halted, blinking in surprise.

"Theodore! When did you get back?" Guilt washed over her for not returning home the previous night.

He looked up, his gaze sharp as he set the phone aside. "Where were you all night?" he asked, his tone cutting.

Her heart sank further under his scrutinizing glare. Bella opened her mouth to explain, but his next words silenced her completely.

"Were you with Zack?" He sneered, disdain dripping from his tone.

"Why would you think that?" Bella exclaimed, her heart tearing apart. "I was with Bridget."

"Really?" he scoffed. "I saw you getting into Zack’s car."

Bella’s gut clenched. ’He saw me?’ Panic flared within her.

"What? Surprised?" Theodore’s lips curled in a bitter smile. "You say you have nothing to do with him But you can’t stay without him. Whenever you have an opportunity, you go find him."

Fury surged through Bella, replacing her initial nervousness. She clenched her fists. "Is that really what you think of me?" she spat. "Yes, I got into his car. Is it wrong to accept a lift? Why do you accuse me of cheating?"