The Contract Bride of Mr. Reid-Chapter 268: Bella’s serious condition

The door swung open, and a doctor in a green scrub stepped out, his expression neutral but weary. Theodore sprang to his feet and approached him, his steps unsteady. Fear gripped him like a vice.

"Doctor," he rasped. "How is she?"

The doctor removed his mask, revealing a faint frown. "We successfully removed the blood clots," he began. "But I’m concerned about the delay in her treatment. The clots should have been addressed immediately. Because of the delay, her brain has suffered damage, and it will take time for her to recover."

Theodore’s stomach dropped. Delay? Damage? The words echoed in his mind, leaving him breathless. "What do you mean by delay?" he managed to ask.

"Aren’t you her husband?" The doctor’s gaze sharpened. "How could you allow her condition to worsen? She suffered this trauma days ago, and instead of prompt medical attention, she was left untreated. Do you understand how serious this was? She could have died."

Each word was like a dagger to Theodore’s heart. "Doctor, please," he implored. "She is my life. Just save her. I’ll do anything."

The doctor shook his head, his anger tempered by confusion. "Why the delay? What happened?"

Theodore swallowed the lump in his throat. "She had an accident on her way back home," he started, his voice strained from emotion. "But she was missing from the accident sight. Someone kidnapped her. I’ve spent days searching for her, and only tonight was I able to bring her here."

The doctor stared at him, his stern demeanor faltering for a moment. "Kidnapped?"

Theodore clasped his hands. "Please save her."

The doctor gaped at him for some time, speechless. "Come to my chamber." With that, he turned and walked briskly down the corridor.

Theodore stood frozen for a moment. He wiped his damp cheeks with his sleeve and followed, his footsteps heavy, his mind racing with fear.

Once they were inside the chamber, the doctor motioned to a chair.

"Take your seat," he said, sitting on his chair.

Theodore moved slowly to the chair and sank into it, his hands clasped tightly as he waited for him to speak.

Across the desk, the doctor’s face was impassive as he turned to the glowing screen of his computer. The faint sound of keystrokes punctuated the heavy silence.

Finally, the doctor spoke. "She suffered a severe concussion. But it was left untreated—or treated inadequately. As a result, her condition worsened, causing damage to her brain. Blood clots formed, which should have been addressed immediately. The delay only exacerbated the situation."

Each word felt like a hammer blow. Theodore’s stomach pulled down, dread seeping into his bones.

"We successfully removed the blood clots," the doctor continued. "For now, that’s a relief. However," he paused, "we can’t determine the full extent of the damage until she wakes up."

Theodore felt the floor drop from beneath him. He gripped the edge of the chair unconsciously.

"We’ve done everything we can for now. The next hours are critical. All we can do is wait and hope."

As his words sank in, Theodore suddenly remembered Bella’s strange behavior when he first saw her in Zack’s residence—the blank look in her eyes, the absence of recognition, and Hazel calling her "Rose."

At the time, Theodore was confused. But now he realized it.

Bella must have lost her memory. That snake Zack had taken advantage of her vulnerability, weaving her into a web of lies and presenting her as his fiancée. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Theodore’s fists clenched under the table as a seething rage brewed. Zack’s twisted manipulation, aided by his equally despicable mother, would not go unanswered. But right now, his concern was Bella.

His focus snapped back to the present. "Will this damage lead to memory loss?"

The doctor paused, his expression grave as he considered the question. "It’s possible," he said carefully. "Given the trauma and delay in treatment, memory loss or other cognitive impairments could occur. However, we won’t know for certain until she wakes up. We need to observe her closely in the coming days."

Theodore’s chest tightened. The thought of Bella waking up and not remembering him, their life together, or their love was a torment he could barely endure.

He had been so happy with her. But a sudden storm had turned their lives upside down. Now Bella was in this state. What would he do if she couldn’t remember him at all? What would he do if she refused to be with him?

Theodore stumbled out of the chamber, his mind a storm of anguish and despair. His knees gave up, and he slid against the wall. Drawing his knees to his chest, Theodore gripped his hair. His chest heaved, and for the first time in years, he felt utterly powerless.

"Mr. Reid." Skyler’s urgent voice broke through the fog of his despair. Theodore didn’t move, but the faint sound of hurried footsteps reached his ears before Skyler crouched beside him, his expression tight with concern. "What happened? What did the doctor say?"

Theodore slowly raised his head, his eyes red-rimmed and glassy. "She could’ve died." The pain was evident in his voice. "It’s because of him—because of that bastard. He didn’t take her to a hospital. He left her to suffer." Fury churned within him. "I want him, Skyler. I want to make him pay. I’ll kill him for what he did to her."

Skyler’s own fury threatened to bubble over. "I’ll find him," he said with quiet conviction. "He won’t get away with this. I’ll bring him to you. I swear it." He reached out and clasped Theodore’s arm, pulling him to his feet. "But you need to rest. Let me take you to the apartment."

Theodore shook his head fiercely, pulling free. "No. I’m not leaving her. Not now."

"Mr. Reid, listen to me," Skyler urged. "You can’t see her tonight. She is in the ICU, and they won’t allow visitors until she stabilizes. You need to stay strong for her. Rest now, so you can be there when she wakes up."

Theodore’s shoulders sagged, his resistance crumbling under the weight of exhaustion and grief. After a long silence, he nodded reluctantly, letting Skyler guide him away from the corridor.