Chapter 144: The shocking news
The next morning dawned bleak and heavy with rain, the gray skies mirroring Bella’s despondent mood. The events of the previous night weighed heavily on her, sapping her of any enthusiasm she might have had. She sat slumped at her worktable, staring blankly at the empty page before her. The pencil beside the drawing board lay untouched.
Meanwhile, Theodore was in the study, focused on his work. The ringing of his phone interrupted him, and he quickly answered. It was Hugo, delivering news that made Theodore’s jaw tighten with resolve.
"They were trying to escape the country, but we picked them up," Hugo reported with a note of satisfaction in his voice. "Are you coming?"
"I’ll be there shortly," Theodore responded, his voice steely. The thought of those men trying to flee only fueled his anger. He was determined to face them himself, to extract the truth about who had sent them.
Before leaving, Theodore decided to check on Bella. He wanted to see how she was doing this morning. He also intended to share the news, hoping it might bring her some comfort.
When he entered her workspace, he found her sitting quietly, seemingly lost in thought. The pencil she held in her hand moved absently between her fingers, but her eyes were unfocused, locked on some distant point on the opposite wall.
To him, it appeared as though she was deeply engrossed in the concept for her next design, and he allowed himself a brief smile.
With a gentle smile, Theodore approached her. "What keeps you so occupied?"
Bella jumped slightly at Theodore’s sudden presence, the pencil slipping from her fingers and clattering onto the desk. Her gaze met his, confusion flickering in her eyes as she noticed the smile lighting up his face.
Here she was, overwhelmed with the lingering sadness from the previous night, and yet he seemed almost...joyful. It puzzled her, making her wonder what had brightened his mood.