The compensation

Theodore glanced at Bella. Leaving her alone wasn't ideal, but this was a lead he couldn't ignore. After all this time, he finally had the chance to unravel the mystery of his accident, to find the perpetrator and bring them to justice.

"Alright," he finally muttered. He ended the call and turned to Bella, his eyes filled with apology. His hesitation wasn't lost on her.

"Is there a problem at work?" she asked softly.

Theodore admitted with a nod, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'll be back soon, I promise."

Bella offered him a gentle smile. "Go," she said with understanding. "Don't worry about me. Bridget will be here soon to keep me company."

"Call me if anything changes, okay?" Theodore leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to her forehead before heading out of the waiting area.

Bella watched him go, loneliness washing over her. Taking another bite of the sandwich, she forced out a sigh, willing to calm down.