Chapter 11

"Theodore." Isabella's eyes were watery, like she'd burst into tears any second. Theodore didn't spare a glance at Victoria on the hospital bed, striding straight to Isabella. "What's going on? You didn't even put shoes on." "I had a nightmare. Woke up and you weren't there... I got scared." "I'll take you back to your room." Theodore draped his jacket over her shoulders and bent down, ready to pick her up. But Isabella clearly wasn't ready to leave—her gaze locked firmly on Victoria, full of suspicion. What, showing up in the same hospital room? Was she trying to get Theodore back? Whatever her plan was, Isabella wasn't about to let it work. She spotted the man from earlier and decided to confront directly. "This gentleman looks familiar. Are you Victoria's friend?" Henry, who had just been observing, was now directly called out. He gave Victoria a brief glance but said nothing. He could tell Isabella had her own agenda. So staying silent felt like the smarter move. The air turned stiff. The atmosphere tense and awkward. Theodore shifted slightly, his eyes catching the two figures behind him. His chest tightened. Without another word, he scooped Isabella into his arms and carried her back to the room. He tucked the blanket around her gently, about to stand up, when Isabella grabbed his hand. "Theodore, I don't think Victoria looked too well just now... Is she okay?" That question irritated him. The last thing he wanted was to think about what he saw earlier. Victoria? Worried about her? She was probably having the time of her life in someone else's arms. He reached up, switched the overhead light to the bedside lamp. "Focus on yourself first. Don't worry about things that don't matter. The important thing is getting you better." Isabella's expression dropped again. "But Theodore, I can't help worrying..." She hadn't felt at ease ever since learning the truth. She was scared. Scared that she'd lose before she even had a chance to fight. And with Victoria in the same hospital... it just felt like trouble waiting to happen. Theodore gently patted her head. "I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you." "I just didn't expect... you'd be the only one left beside me now." Isabella leaned into him, her cheek on his chest, silently mapping out her next move. The next day, Victoria was ready to be discharged. She knew if she stayed even a little longer, Henry would keep visiting with some excuse or another. But he wasn't Elijah. Their bond wasn't like that. She didn't feel comfortable troubling him further. "Weren't we clear on being friends? Now even a friend offering you a ride home gets rejected?" Hard to push someone away with a smile like his. Seeing that faint grin, Victoria gave up on turning him down again. "Then thanks. Sorry to trouble you." Two days wasn't long. But not exactly short either. She still didn't know much about Henry, but from the way he spoke, she could tell—he wasn't just some nobody. The sun was warm and gentle as they stepped outside. Victoria tilted her face up, closing her eyes against the light. For a second, she looked completely out of it. At the same moment, Theodore and Isabella exited the hospital.Isabella was worried something might go wrong again, so she used the excuse of her "awkward identity" to have Theodore help with her discharge paperwork. But what were the odds? Just as they stepped outside, they spotted two painfully familiar figures. By the car, Henry had his hand up to shield Victoria's forehead. "Watch your head." To anyone else, the scene looked like a super lovey-dovey couple moment. Theodore suddenly stopped. His whole vibe turned ice-cold, and that wave of heaviness he couldn't quite explain crashed down on him again. He took a step forward, but before he could go any farther, Isabella winced, clutching her chest with a tight-lipped expression. He glanced sideways. "What's wrong?" "Probably because I ate too fast this morning... I feel kind of short of breath." She was about to ask him to take her back to the hospital when he calmly removed her hand from his arm. "Just rest here for a bit." Then he walked straight toward the nearby car. "Theo—" Isabella's voice came out soft and unsure, her raised hand slowly falling back down. Why? Why was Theodore still prioritizing Victoria like she didn't even exist? Theodore's eyes darkened. Just as Henry reached to shut the car door, he stuck out an arm to stop him. "What are you doing here?" Victoria blinked, caught off guard, and before anyone could react, he yanked her out of the car. He didn't hold back at all—his grip was rough, and she stumbled, nearly falling over. "Theodore, what the hell are you doing?" She was already feeling weak after all that time in the hospital, and now he was dragging her around like this? It was exhausting. He didn't say a word, just clutched her wrist tighter. "What do you think? If I hadn't shown up, were you planning to go home with him?" His gaze was locked on her, like he was trying to see right through her. Victoria frowned, immediately realizing he'd gotten the wrong idea—but explaining wouldn't help. She tried pulling away, but his grip didn't budge. Henry got out of the car too, eyes sharp. "Let her go." "This is between me and my wife. Not your business." Theodore turned his head slightly, voice low but forceful. The words made Henry freeze for a second. He looked at Victoria, totally confused. Wife? But nothing about how they acted screamed "married couple." Isabella had heard it too as she walked over, and it hit her like a brick to the chest. She bit down on her lip hard, but her expression shifted quickly, switching to soft and understanding. "Theo, it's cold and Victoria's not fully recovered. Let's just take this home, okay?" Theodore clearly agreed. The driver had already pulled up, and he pushed Victoria toward the car. "I'll have my assistant pick you up later, Isabella." With that, he told the driver to leave, not even looking back. The gloom in his eyes didn't escape Isabella—she could tell he was seriously upset. But even so, he still chose Victoria over her. She just stood there, watching that black car disappear from sight, and couldn't stop the bitterness from eating at her. They were divorced. Why couldn't Victoria just back off already? Her smile turned thin and cold, but then she realized Henry was still nearby. She didn't care about him—but Henry suddenly stepped in front of her. "So... what exactly is going on between those two?" said Henry. Noticing the sudden gleam in his eyes, a fresh idea instantly popped into Isabella's mind.