The Contract Bride of Mr. Reid

Several days later...

Theodore had rented an apartment in the locality where Zack’s house was with fake ID and changed appearance. He had been observing Zack, but nothing suspicious had been noted yet.

Every day, he observed the man’s mundane routine—leaving for the office in the morning, returning in the evening—without any sign of suspicious activity. His mother’s occasional errands were equally uneventful. Yet Theodore couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss.

It was frustrating. It seemed that all his efforts to find Bella had been wasted. But the nagging doubts that Zack was hiding something lingered in his heart.

Zack’s mother’s behavior only deepened his doubts. Unlike most neighbors who mingled and exchanged pleasantries, she kept to herself. Her errands were hurried, her demeanor skittish, as though she were perpetually on edge. She avoided the local garden where the elderly gathered, never indulging in the casual strolls common to the neighborhood. The secrecy that enveloped her movements gnawed at Theodore’s resolve.

Several days of relentless surveillance had left Theodore drained and irritable. His urge to barge into the house intensified to see if Bella was there. "This isn’t getting me anywhere. I can’t wait any longer. I need to find out if Bella’s in that house." His heart thudded in his chest as he strode toward the door.

Skyler stepped in, blocking his path. "Hold on. We’ve waited this long for a reason. If Bella is in there, barging in recklessly could end her in danger. Think about it—Zack’s guards won’t let you step inside, and if he suspects we are onto him, he could panic. He might hurt her or disappear with her again."

Theodore clenched his fists as he processed Skyler’s words, the helplessness etched onto his face. He hated the thought of sitting idly by while Bella could be suffering or in danger. "Then what do we do?" he asked through gritted teeth. "Waiting is frustrating now."

Skyler placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We stick to the plan. Keep watching. Find a way to get inside without tipping him off. I have a plan."

Theodore’s flickered with hope and curiosity. "What plan?"