Chapter 119: Bella in danger
Bella’s heart pounded in her chest. "I won’t do it," she retorted, defiance flashing in her eyes.
"Oh, but you will," Lionel said, his tone menacing. "If you care about Mrs. Green’s life, you will do exactly as I say."
Bella’s resolve wavered. The thought of Mrs. Green suffering because of her made her feel sick to her stomach. She had no choice but to comply. However, the thought of Theodore stepping into this viper’s den filled her with dread.
Bella’s face turned a ghastly pale. She had no faith in Lionel; he was a volatile, dangerous man. If Theodore were to come here and be harmed, she would never forgive herself.
"You are mistaken," she hissed. "I don’t have any sugar daddy."
Lionel’s grip tightened around her throat, his eyes glinting with menace. "Don’t lie!" he snarled. "I saw you with that man at the hospital. He is the one who paid for your mother’s surgery. Now, call him and tell him to bring money."
Bella’s heart pounded in her chest. She couldn’t do it. "He won’t come," she managed to gasp out. "He doesn’t care about me. He has a girlfriend."
Lionel couldn’t believe his ears. He had witnessed firsthand the tender affection that man had shown Bella. It was undeniable. How could he possibly have a girlfriend? His eyes narrowed as he tried to reconcile her words with the truth he had seen.
Bella thought he would trust her and drop the idea of calling Theodore. "Look, I’ll give you money," she offered a bribe. "Just let me go."
But Lionel was adamant. He wouldn’t let her go. Franklin had informed him that Bella was the woman his enemy loved. For her sake, that mysterious adversary would undoubtedly a huge ransom.
"I don’t care if he has a girlfriend," Lionel snapped, his eyes flashing with cold determination. "He is clearly smitten with you, and that’s all that matters. He’ll pay as much as money I want."
He held up Bella’s phone, a menacing glint in his eyes. "Theodore, is it? That’s the name, right?" he scoffed, scrolling through the recent messages. "Seems our little birdie is quite missed. He is really worried about you."