Chapter 85 Supposed To Be

Chapter 85 Supposed To Be
Chapter 85: Supposed To Be

A week later, both Dianna and Mrs. Beaumont were finally discharged from the hospital.

Their return to the mansion marked the beginning of a new chapter in everyone’s lives.

The suffocating tension that once lingered heavily throughout the place slowly faded day by day, replaced instead by a fragile sense of peace that none of them dared take for granted anymore.

Mrs. Beaumont’s recovery progressed steadily under strict medical supervision.

Despite her complaints about being constantly monitored, Theodore ensured that nurses remained inside the mansion around the clock.

Several specialists visited weekly to evaluate her condition personally, and every possible comfort was arranged before she even requested it.

The mansion itself gradually became lively again.

Fresh flowers appeared in nearly every room each morning because Dianna liked how they brightened the atmosphere. Afternoon tea became a regular routine once more, often shared quietly between Dianna and her grandmother inside the garden while sunlight filtered softly through the estate grounds.

For the first time in months, the house no longer felt haunted by loneliness.

However, Theodore’s protectiveness toward Dianna only intensified after the hospital incident.

The doctors made it very clear that her pregnancy remained highly delicate after the severe emotional and physical stress her body endured. Any unnecessary exhaustion or emotional pressure could potentially place both her and the baby at risk again.

Theodore treated those warnings like absolute law.

As a result, Dianna was no longer allowed to return to her company regardless of how much she protested internally. Theodore personally handled every arrangement necessary to keep her away from stress.

Additional maids were hired specifically to assist her throughout the day, and several staff members were instructed to monitor her condition whenever Theodore himself could not remain beside her.

At first, Dianna found the situation excessive.

Eventually, however, she quietly realized the reason behind Theodore’s behavior.

Fear still lingered inside him.

The memory of nearly losing her had not disappeared simply because she survived.

Sometimes during the middle of the night, Theodore would wake up abruptly only to check whether she was still sleeping peacefully beside him.

Other times, he would return home from work and search for her immediately before doing anything else, almost as though part of him still feared she might vanish again without warning.

That fear softened Dianna’s resistance over time.

Instead of fighting him constantly, she slowly allowed herself to rest.

And strangely enough, life inside the mansion became gentler because of it.

Meanwhile, Theodore’s responsibilities outside the mansion expanded significantly after Victor Callaghan’s death.

Victor’s disappearance created massive instability behind the scenes, especially among political and business circles that once depended heavily on his influence. Rumors spread quickly regarding what truly happened to him, but nobody dared investigate deeply enough to uncover the truth.

Not when Theodore Callaghan suddenly emerged controlling nearly everything Victor once possessed.

The transition happened with terrifying efficiency.

Every business previously connected to Victor fell under Theodore’s authority almost overnight. Financial assets, corporate partnerships, private holdings, and underground connections disappeared into Theodore’s control one after another without resistance lasting very long.

Those who attempted opposing him quickly learned how dangerous Theodore had become.

Unlike before, Theodore no longer behaved recklessly simply for attention or rebellion. The man people once dismissed as Victor’s troublesome son had disappeared completely.

The syndicate openly backed Theodore’s rise after Victor’s fall, making the transition of power even smoother. Several influential political figures who once ignored Theodore suddenly treated him with careful respect, while others chose fear instead.

Because Theodore no longer bothered pretending to be harmless.

Meetings that once required lengthy negotiations now ended almost immediately the moment he entered the room. People listened when Theodore spoke, not because he demanded attention, but because they understood what happened to those who underestimated him.

Victor built his empire through manipulation and intimidation.

Theodore rebuilt it through control.

Every decision he made now revolved around securing a future stable enough for Dianna and their child.

That alone made him far more ruthless than Victor ever became.

However, while Theodore rebuilt the empire left behind by his father, one unfinished matter still remained.

Vanessa.

Vanessa disappeared immediately after Dianna’s running away incident.

For weeks, nobody could locate her whereabouts despite extensive searches conducted quietly behind the scenes. Most people assumed she fled permanently after Victor’s downfall began.

Theodore never believed that.

Vanessa was not the type to disappear peacefully forever.

She was arrogant enough to believe she could eventually recover from everything.

Unfortunately for her, Theodore had become very patient lately.

And patient men were often the most terrifying kind.

The search finally ended on a stormy evening inside a luxury residence hidden in Milan.

Vanessa spent the past several weeks hiding under another identity.

By the time Vanessa realized Theodore had finally located her…

It was already too late.

The apartment doors burst open without warning while rain hammered violently against the tall glass windows outside. Several armed men entered swiftly, spreading across the luxurious penthouse as they secured every possible exit within seconds.

Panic immediately consumed Vanessa the moment she understood who sent them.

Her face lost color almost instantly as she stumbled backward across the marble floor, eyes darting wildly around the room searching for escape that no longer existed.

Then Theodore stepped inside.

Dressed entirely in black, Theodore entered the apartment with calm, unhurried steps while his men restrained Vanessa before she could run. One of them caught her wrist firmly while another blocked her path entirely.

Fear visibly spread across her face the moment their eyes met.

For several long moments, Theodore simply stared at her quietly.

The atmosphere inside the penthouse became suffocating almost immediately.

Rain continued pouring outside while distant thunder echoed across the city skyline behind him. Dim golden lights reflected against the glass walls surrounding the room that casted shadows across Theodore’s expression.

Then finally, a faint sneer slowly formed across his face.

“Ah,” Theodore murmured softly. “It has been a good fucking while.”

The words alone sent cold shivers down Vanessa’s spine.

Because Theodore did not sound angry.

He sounded amused.

And somehow…

That frightened her far more.

Vanessa instinctively struggled against the men holding her, but the moment Theodore slowly stepped closer, her movements weakened immediately.

Theodore stopped only a few feet away from her afterward.

His gaze traveled slowly around the expensive penthouse before returning to her face again.

“Milan,” he said quietly. “Luxury shopping districts. Private residences. Expensive wine.” He tilted his head slightly. “You certainly know how to disappear comfortably.”

Vanessa swallowed hard but forced herself to speak despite the fear tightening visibly across her expression.

“Theodore… listen to me!”

“No.”

The single word silenced her instantly.

Theodore’s face remained calm.

“You spent your days hiding after you caused ruckus between me and Dianna. Did you really believe I would simply forget about you?”

Vanessa’s breathing became uneven.

“I didn’t do anything,” she said quickly. “I swear to God, Theodore, I–”

Theodore laughed softly under his breath, cutting her off.

“You know,” he murmured thoughtfully, “the interesting thing about desperate people is that they always start telling the truth too late.”

Vanessa visibly trembled.

“Theodore, please…” she begged, but he ignored her completely.

Instead, Theodore walked slowly farther into the penthouse, casually removing his gloves one finger at a time while surveying the room around him.

“You manipulated Dianna and made her think I would hate her. You tried destroying whatever little peace she still had left, compromising both her and our unborn child's health.”

“And after all that…” Theodore paused briefly before looking back at Vanessa again. “You still expected mercy?”

Vanessa’s eyes widened in panic.

“I was angry!” she cried desperately. “You were supposed to be mine!"