I Married My Ex's Billionaire Father
Chapter 131: Growing Sense Of Urgency

Chapter 131: Growing Sense Of Urgency

Bella watched Ken, a bittersweet smile playing on her lips. He was practically radiating joy, his eyes sparkling as he recounted his encounter with Lyse. He spoke of her kindness, her gentle nature, and the uncanny resemblance she bore to Maeve. He talked about the possibility of a friendship, a connection that felt important to him.

Bella listened patiently, her own thoughts swirling beneath the surface. While she was happy to see Ken experiencing a flicker of happiness after so many years of heartache, a nagging feeling of unease settled in her stomach. It was Lottie. Something about her reaction to Ken’s mention of Lyse’s resemblance to someone felt... off.

Bella had a strong suspicion about Lottie’s connection to Lyse and Maeve, how had Lyse come to be with her? She had not been able to delve into that because it would have been rude but it concerned her.

She decided to keep her concerns to herself for now since Ken hadn’t said anything, but she knew she couldn’t ignore them. She needed to investigate further, to uncover the truth behind Lottie’s connection with Lyse.

"That is wonderful, Ken," Bella said, forcing a smile. "I’m so glad you had such a positive experience."

Ken beamed at her, his eyes shining. "It felt... right," he said. "Like I was meant to meet her. It’s strange, I know, but I feel a real connection to her."

Bella nodded, her smile faltering slightly. She knew that Ken was projecting his memories of Maeve onto Lyse, and she worried about the inevitable disappointment that would follow when he realized that Lyse was not the reincarnation of his lost love.

"I’m happy for you, Ken," she said, her voice sincere. "But... maybe it’s best to take things slow. Don’t rush into anything."

Ken waved her concerns away. "I’m not rushing into anything," he said. "I just want to get to know her. As a friend."

Bella nodded again, knowing that arguing with him was pointless. He was caught up in the moment, blinded by hope. She knew she couldn’t change his mind, but she could protect him.

"I’m going to do some more digging," she thought to herself. "I need to find out what Lottie is really up to. I won’t let her hurt Ken or Lyse."

She made a mental note to discreetly investigate Lottie’s past activities, to see if she could uncover any hidden agendas. She also decided to delve deeper into Lyse’s background, to learn more about her life.

She felt a growing sense of urgency. Something felt wrong, and Bella was determined to get to the bottom of it. She would be there for Ken, a steady presence, a voice of reason, and a shield against any potential harm. She just hoped she wasn’t too late.

*

Brandon’s hands tightened on the steering wheel as he sped towards the Chadwick house. He couldn’t believe Lyse had gone there. After all his carefully crafted plans, she had chosen to be with the two people who had consistently treated her with indifference, if not outright hostility. He felt a surge of anger, a burning resentment towards Lottie and Brooke for interfering.

He parked haphazardly in the driveway and stormed towards the imposing front doors, not bothering to ring the bell. He pushed them open and strode into the grand foyer, his anger radiating off him in waves.

He found Lyse in the living room, sitting on a plush sofa, looking pale and disoriented. Lottie was hovering nearby, offering a saccharine smile that did not reach her eyes.

"Lyse," Brandon said, his voice sharp, cutting through the strained pleasantries.

Lyse turned, her expression a mixture of surprise and unease. "Brandon," she said, her voice hesitant. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you," he replied, his gaze fixed on her. "Why are you here? You should be at your apartment."

He reached out to take her hand, but she instinctively pulled away. "I am staying here for a while," she said, her voice quiet. "With my family."

Brandon’s anger flared. "Your family?" he repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. "These people have never cared about you, Lyse. They’ve treated you like dirt for years."

Lottie’s smile faltered, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face. She opened her mouth to speak, but Brandon cut her off.

"Don’t you remember, Lyse?" he said, his voice softening slightly, trying to appeal to her fragmented memory. "They were never there for you. They never cared."

Lyse looked from Brandon to Lottie, her brow furrowed with confusion. She could sense the tension between them, the undercurrent of animosity.

"I know... things haven’t always been easy," she said, her voice hesitant. "But they are trying now. They want to take care of me."

"Take care of you?" Brandon scoffed. "They’re using you, Lyse. Just like they always have. Come with me, I will take care of you."

"I’ll be fine, Brandon," Lyse said, her voice firm. "I’m more comfortable here right now."

Brandon’s frustration reached its peak. He couldn’t understand why she was being so stubborn. He was trying to protect her, to save her from these manipulative women.

Before he could argue further, Brooke entered the room, her expression cool and calculating. She had been listening to their conversation from the hallway.

"Lyse, darling," she said, her voice sweet but with a steel edge. "I believe it’s time for your nap. You need to rest."

Lyse nodded, looking relieved to have an excuse to escape the tense conversation. She stood up slowly, her gaze lingering on Brandon for a moment before turning to Brooke.

As Lyse left the room, with Lottie helping her. Brooke turned to Brandon, her eyes narrowing. "You need to leave," she said, her voice low and menacing.

"I’m not going anywhere," Brandon retorted, his anger still simmering. "I’m not going to let you and your mother manipulate Lyse."

"You are the one who’s manipulating her," Brooke hissed. "You’re taking advantage of her amnesia to try and win her back. It’s disgusting."

"As if you are not trying to do the same thing." Brandon hissed.

"Don’t force me to tell her everything." Brooke threatened, her eyes holding his.

Brandon took a step closer to her, his eyes boring into hers. "You wouldn’t," he said, his voice laced with warning.

"Oh, I will," Brooke countered, her voice firm. "I’m going to tell Lyse everything. I’m going to tell her about you and me. I’m going to tell her how you betrayed her."

A cold dread washed over Brandon. This was exactly what he had feared. He couldn’t let Brooke expose his secret.

"If you do that," he said, his voice low and threatening, "you’ll regret it. You’ll regret ever crossing me."

Brooke stood her ground, refusing to be intimidated. "I’m not afraid of you, Brandon," she said, her voice resolute. "I will do everything in my power to keep you."

She turned and walked away, leaving Brandon standing there, his anger and frustration reaching a boiling point. He knew he had to do something. He couldn’t let Brooke ruin everything. He wouldn’t let her take Lyse away from him. He had to find a way to silence her, to keep his secret buried. The stakes had just been raised, and Brandon was prepared to play dirty.