The Contract Bride of Mr. Reid-Chapter 83: Shattered hope

Zack staggered backward, his body colliding with the unforgiving worktable. The revelation was a blow he couldn’t take it. His world had shattered into a million iridescent fragments. His dreams lay in ruins at his feet. The future he had envisioned with Bella now stretched out before him.

He could see nothing but endless darkness ahead of him.

Despair threatened to engulf him whole, to drag him into the abyss of hopelessness. But amidst the chaos, a flicker of defiance ignited within his heart.

A fierce resolve emerged. He couldn’t, wouldn’t accept defeat. He wouldn’t give up on Bella. Whoever had claimed her hand in marriage clearly did not deserve her.

Her so-called husband was good for nothing. Maybe that man was useless, unable to help Bella in her tough time. If not, she had not resorted to such desperate measures as lying to her mother about an advance salary.

"No," he muttered, gripping the edge of the table, his knuckles white. "Bella can only be mine. I won’t let anyone take her away from me."

With renewed purpose, a flicker of determination ignited his gaze. He would win her back.

~~~~~~~~~

Later that day...

Bella arrived at the hospital, her steps hesitant as she approached the ward. Before entering, she paused, caught in a silent debate with herself. Should she reveal her stepfather’s release to her mother? The thought lingered, a question mark hanging over her head.

A voice from within urged her to keep it a secret. Selena was already very weak, her condition was precarious until the surgery was done. Bella wouldn’t want to trouble her further.

With a deep breath, she forced a smile and pushed open the door. "Hey, Mamma, I’m back." Stretching her lips, she pushed open the door and stepped in. "Hey, mamma. I am back."

Selena’s face lit up with a warmth that surprised Bella. "Bella, I’ve been waiting for you."

Intrigued, Bella questioned the unexpected cheerfulness. "Okay! What is on your mind?"

"Come here, sweetheart." Selena’s hand reached out, inviting Bella closer. "I haven’t been able to ask you how you are holding up lately. You must be tired of running around from work to hospital."

Bella squeezed her mother’s hand, offering reassurance. "You should focus on yourself. All I want is to see you recover."

Selena’s eyes softened, her emotions flooding. "Dear, you are still young. It’s the age when you find a boyfriend and plan for the future. But look at you: you are always worried about me. I want you to find someone." Her voice held a hopeful undertone. "Someone who likes you."

"Mamma!" A blush crept up Bella’s cheeks. The time had come to confide in her mother about Theodore. At least, her mother should know about her marriage.

"How do you find your boss, Zack Hudson? Do you like him?" Selena’s question was a surprising curveball that caught Bella off guard.

Zack Hudson? Why was her mother bringing him up? Before Bella could formulate a response, Selena launched into an explanation.

"He visited me this morning," Selena said, gesturing towards the fruit basket on the side table. "He brought this for me."

Bella’s surprise deepened. Zack Hudson had been to the hospital? She had spoken to him, but he hadn’t mentioned it.

"I think he likes you." Selena’s eyes sparkled with excitement and hope. "He said he would do anything to help us. He is such a nice guy – handsome and successful. Why don’t you give him a chance?"

"He is my boss," Bella countered, her voice sharp.

Selena dismissed her objection with a wave of her hand. "So what if he is your boss? I can tell he likes you. He’s willing to do anything for you, Bella." Her grip tightened on Bella’s hand. "You deserve happiness – a secure life, a future full of hopes. That man can fulfill your wishes."

"Please, mamma..." Bella cut her short.

"Bella!" Selena insisted. "He likes you. That’s why he came to see me." She was certain about her claims. "Think, Bella: he wouldn’t have approved to pay you in advance if he didn’t like you."

Bella felt a wave of frustration and sadness. She grimaced, pressing her fingers against her forehead. It was a lie she had concocted to hide her contract marriage with Theodore.

At the time, she had not thought this lie would make her mother persuade her of something like this. Now, with her relationship with Theodore changing, she felt compelled to tell her the truth.

"He is already engaged," she started slowly. "He has a fiancée."

"Engaged?" Selena’s face fell, a deep frown creasing her forehead. "But he seems like he likes you." Her expression turned bleak as she suspected that Zack was playing with Bella’s emotions.

Bella shrugged helplessly. She had been facing problems in her workplace because of his feelings for her. If he had not set his eyes on her, Ivy wouldn’t have targeted her.

She took a deep breath, trying to explain. "Mamma, I never asked him for advance payment."

"What did you say?" Selena exclaimed, her voice rising in pitch. Shock and disbelief mingled on her face.

"You lied to me! Then... how did you arrange money for my treatment?" Her face turned ghostly pale. She clasped her shoulders tightly and shook her. "Bella, tell me the truth. You are not doing something you shouldn’t do, are you?"

Bella reached out, wrapping her arms around her mother in a desperate hug. "I am not doing anything to make you embarrassed," she blurted out an explanation. "Please have faith in me."

Selena pulled back, her grip tightening on Bella’s shoulders. "Then tell me clearly, how did you arrange the money?" She searched her daughter’s eyes intently.

Bella lowered her gaze, her finger tracing the outline of the ring. She held it up for her mother to see. "I got married," she revealed. "It’s my husband who is helping us... He is looking for a suitable donor for you."

Selena’s face contorted into a mask of worry. "Married? Bella!" Her voice carried a sharp edge of disbelief.

The realization that her daughter had made such a life-altering decision without confiding in her filled her with a profound sense of unease.

"You made such an important decision in your life and didn’t consider telling me. Who is this guy? Is he good to you?"

She was afraid this man would turn out to be an abusive husband, just like hers.

Bella offered a reassuring nod. "Yes, he is good to me," she replied softly. A flicker of a smile touched her lips as she recounted the events. "Actually, I saved him once from an accident. He wanted to return my favor and helped me with your treatment. Then... Things between us started to change, and we got married."

She purposefully hid the matter of their contract marriage. She thought it was pointless to mention it since the contract was no longer valid.