Chapter four: Someone Is Watching Us.

Nathan placed his hands on his hips and let out a loud sigh. “Bella, I know you are stressed mentally, but you need to rest. Please do not hesitate to call me if anything goes wrong,” he said, patting her softly on the shoulder.

“Sure, I will,” Bella nodded, “bye, Nathan.”

“See you soon,” Nathan waved at her and exited the room.

Bella lay back on her bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling as she reminisced on the series of events that had taken place that day. “Even though things did not turn out the way I had expected, the baby growing in my womb is my only consolation, and I will protect it with everything I've got,” she said with an air of determination in her voice.

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Elora dashed into Samuel's room, her heart drumming loudly in her chest as she went straight to Samuel's bed. “Samuel, my son, what has happened to you?” Her voice quivered with emotion.

“Calm down, Mrs Reynolds, Samuel is doing just fine,” a familiar female voice reached her ears.

Elora turned her head to see a beautiful lady dressed in a green dress, her blonde hair bouncing as she walked towards Elora with a smile.

“Oh, Lily, it's you,” Elora said in a stunned voice and engulfed her in a heart-warming hug. “How did you get here, I mean, when did you arrive in the country?” 

“I arrived yesterday. I came into the hospital for a check-up when I saw Samuel being rushed into the hospital. He had lost a lot of blood, and I offered to donate my blood to save him. He's stable now, and the doctor said he would wake up anytime soon.” Lily boldly lied, taking advantage of the situation.

Elora heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much, Lily, for saving Samuel's life. This means a lot to me.” Her heart swelled with warmth. Seeing Lily again after three years made her heart flutter with excitement. She had wanted Lily to get married to Samuel, but Lily had travelled abroad and stayed away for three years. 

Samuel's soft groan disrupted their conversation, and they both turned towards him.

“Samuel dear, thank God you are awake,” Elora said with a teary smile as she rubbed his cheeks with her hands. 

Samuel's head was bandaged, filling his head with a raging headache that felt like seven hefty men were wrestling in his skull. He switched gazes between Elora and Lily, and winced in pain. “Mum, where is Bella, and what is Lily doing here?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Elora rolled her eyes. The mere mention of Bella's name only made her stomach churn in anger. “Forget about Bella.” She waved her hand dismissively. “How do you feel now?” she asked in concern, her hands roaming all over his body.

“I'm fine, but Bella…. I thought she was here with me, we even kissed…” he pondered, trying to recall if it was real or if he was just hallucinating. 

“Oh, you mean your wife? She was never here. I've been with you since you were rushed in here,” Lily butted in, a mischievous smile etched on her face.

“Sometimes I wonder if that girl has bewitched you. You just survived a terrible accident, and all you could think about is Bella. You should be thanking Lily here for donating her blood to save your life,” Elora said, gesturing at Lily.

Samuel's eyes widened in surprise, and he turned to Lily. “You did? I thought…”

“Shhhh… It's okay, Samuel,” Lily hushed him by placing her two fingers against his lips. “It's nothing, Samuel. I know I hurt you when I travelled abroad three years ago. I'm sorry about that, and I'm here to make things right. I donated my blood to save your life, and I'm willing to do anything to make it up to you,” Lily explained, a sense of remorse and commitment evident in her tone. 

“Samuel, I know Lily has hurt you, but she's here to make amends. Lily is the perfect woman for you; she's smart, beautiful, and from a very influential family, unlike that wretch you call a wife,” Elora interjected. “Talking about Bella, she is probably in the arms of another man, warming his bed,” she blurted out.

“Why would you say that, Mom?” Samuel arched his brows in confusion.

“She left the house earlier in the day, looking beautiful and sexy, without telling me where she was going. She got into a taxi and zoomed off,” Elora revealed.

“Mom, are you trying to say that Bella went out with another man?” Samuel asked curiously.

“Where else could she have gone? She's supposed to be here with you as your wife, but she's not here, ” Elora scoffed.

“But that does not prove that she's with another man; perhaps she doesn't know that I'm here in the hospital. Why don't you call her to know where she is?” Samuel suggested.

“Ok, if you insist,” Elora took out her phone and called Bella's number. It rang several times, but she didn't pick up. “You see, I told you she is busy with another man.”

“That's enough, Mom, I'm sure she will call back later.” Turning to Lily, “ Lily, thank you for saving my life. I'm grateful to you”

“Oh, it's nothing, Samuel, I will do anything for you,” Lily replied, a feeling of satisfaction washing through her, seeing that Elora and Samuel had fallen for her lies. 

Samuel was mute, conflicting emotions running through his mind. “Is Bella really with another man? Could Mom be right? I don't think Bella is capable of doing that. She loves me too much to cheat on me.”

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Samuel was discharged from the hospital after three days. Elora and Lily took him home. As soon as he arrived home, he searched the entire house for Bella but did not find her. 

“Bella is not home. Where could she be?” he asked worriedly as the thought of Bella cheating on him kept ringing in his mind. 

Elora hissed, “Forget about Bella, Lily and I are here to take care of you. That's all that matters now.”

Lily walked to Samuel and caressed his back, “You just got back, why don't you relax while I prepare something for you,” she said in a sultry voice and made him sit on the reclining leather chair in the living room. 

Lily went into the kitchen while Elora remained in the living room with Samuel. Bella arrived at the house a few minutes later and was met with Elora's mean face staring directly into her soul.

“And where have you been for three days? Are you even aware that I was in an accident and was admitted to the hospital for three days?” Samuel questioned Bella, his voice sharp and intimidating.

Bella took a deep breath before speaking. “I was also….”

“Oh shut your trap, you shameless whore,” Elora hushed her mid-sentence. I bet you've been sleeping around with different men, forgetting that you are a married woman.” 

“I beg your pardon, Elora, watch your tongue, or you will regret it,” Bella warned Elora. 

“Bella, you are so shameless, you have the guts to run your mouth after what you have done. How pathetic,” Samuel rebuked.

“And you believed your mother even without hearing me out. Why am I even surprised? It has always been the norm,” she scoffed.

Lily soon came out of the kitchen with three glasses of juice placed on a tray. She served Samuel and Elora and took the last glass for herself. She went to sit close to Samuel, totally ignoring Bella, who was standing there watching her closely.

Bella's face froze in surprise, and her eyes widened as soon as she recognised Lily, “This is the same lady that I saw kissing Samuel at the hospital,” she said to herself. “Who is she, and what is she doing here?” she asked authoritatively, her voice coming out sharper than intended. 

Elora smiled, “She is Lily Lawson, the woman who saved my son's life. She deserves to be with Samuel and not a wretched whore like you.” 

“Now I get it, she took credit for what I have done. What an opportunist,” Bella said inwardly and let out a bitter smile. “Oh, Samuel, I can see that you and your mother are eager to replace me. Anyways, I was…”

Suddenly, everyone's phone beeped at the same time, and they all glanced at their phones. A video popped up on their screens. Their eyes widened in disbelief, and their mouths went agape as they watched Nathan and Bella hugging affectionately in the video.