Chapter 204: The wedding gift
Bella’s breath caught in her throat. "What?" she gasped, her eyes flicking between the key and the house before her. She was struggling to comprehend what Theodore was telling her. "You... bought this?"
She couldn’t make sense. Her mind raced. Why did he feel the need to buy such a grand house in this exclusive neighborhood when they already had his villa? Confusion filled her as she tried to piece it together.
"Why? I mean, we live in your villa. Are you planning for us to move here?"
"Consider it a wedding gift," he murmured, his fingers gently brushing over hers. "If you want, we can move in here. Or...you could bring your mom here. She lives alone, and it’s hard for you to visit her as often as you’d like. If she is here, you could look after her more easily."
The realization hit Bella all at once. Theodore wasn’t just buying a house—he was trying to keep her close, to ensure she didn’t have to leave him to care for her mother. The depth of his thoughtfulness touched her deeply, warming her heart. At the same time, the gesture amused her.
"This is too much," she said, shaking her head. "You have done so much for me and my mother already. I can’t take this." She handed the key back to him.
"This is not a favor," Theodore said. "It’s my gift to my wife. Are you going to refuse it?" His fingers tilted her chin up, their faces so close now that she could feel his breath on her skin. His lips hovered just inches from hers, teasing the inevitable.
Bella’s heart began to race, her pulse quickening as his presence filled her senses. She tried to respond, but the words caught in her throat. All she could focus on was the nearness of him, the intoxicating anticipation of his lips on hers. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, her mind going blank except for the aching need to feel his kiss.
"Answer me," Theodore demanded hoarsely, his voice commanding yet filled with tenderness.
"I—I’ll accept it," Bella stammered, breathless.
A slow, satisfied smile curved Theodore’s lips before he closed the gap between them, sealing her answer with a deep, passionate kiss.
Bella melted into him, her fingers instinctively weaving into his hair as she kissed him back. His lips were familiar, yet every time they met hers, it felt as though they ignited something new within her.