Chapter 121: The rescue
Bella regained consciousness. Her eyes flickered open, the world a blur of pain. Her body throbbed with every shallow breath, reminding her of the brutality she had endured.
She groaned. It was disappointing that she was still in the same dingy room. Her gaze darted around, searching for a way out, a glimmer of hope. But her eyes landed on Lionel, a monstrous figure in the dim light, sitting on a worn-out chair.
"Awake?" His eyes, cold and calculating, met hers.
Fear crept into her heart. She scooted backward, as far away from him as she could, ignoring the pain in her body – afraid that he would beat her again.
Lionel checked the time on his phone, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. "It’s almost dawn now and your boyfriend hasn’t come yet. It seems like he doesn’t care about you."
A flicker of defiance ignited in Bella’s eyes. She knew Theodore would come. He would save her. But the words that escaped her lips were a shield of bitterness. "I told you already – he has a girlfriend. Why would he waste money on me?"
"Shut up!" Enraged, Lionel leaped from the chair, his shadow looming over her.
Terror consumed Bella as she cowered, her chin tucked into her chest. Just as his fist was about to connect, a thunderous voice boomed through the room.
"Stop!" The door burst open, and a figure charged into the room.
Theodore stood at the threshold, his eyes blazing with fury. His presence filled the room, the intensity of his anger palpable. He had taken in the scene in an instant: Bella’s bruised and battered form, Lionel’s threatening stance, and the sheer terror in Bella’s eyes.