章 41: The anticipated meeting

Theodore came back to his villa. As he pushed the heavy oak door open and stepped in, he saw Tristan standing near the fireplace.

"Sir…" Tristan greeted him with a nod and handed him a folder along with a lady's handbag. "These are the things the guards collected from that deserted house."

Theodore's hand tightened around the strap of the bag. It was Bella's. He set it aside, his attention moving to the folder. A growing unease gnawing at his gut, as he opened it with a flick.

Papers, contracts, all seemingly mundane at first glance. Yet, as his eyes devoured the contents, a knot of tension formed in his stomach.

As he read, he understood that Bella had gone to that house to settle debts with those goons and to retrieve the documents for her house, which had been mortgaged to a gang leader.

A frown, sharp and deep, etched itself onto Theodore's face. Why did Bella need so much money? What was going on in her life?