r 11 Chapter 11 Theodore sat behind the desk in his office . Documents spread open before him , yet he could not take in a single word . He had assumed that once Clarisse cooled off , she would reach out . But five days had passed , and her phone was still off . Every message he sent vanished into the void . A suffocating frustration simmered in his chest . They had agreed - once he came back , he would take her on a trip to relax . In the end , she walked away without a word , clearly expecting him to coax her back . Everything that had happened recently was her fault to begin with . She was too jealous to accept Bianca and Caleb . All Clarisse had to do was keep calm and wait for him to finish his duty . Then , he would send the two of them away , and life would return to how it was . But she refused to learn and kept making the same mistakes over and over . If he really gave in and went after her this time , would that not make her think she could always get away with this ? She would just get even more immature and more spoiled . Theodore was determined . This time , Clarisse had to be the one to back down first . Suddenly , his phone rang . A flicker of hope flashed in his eyes . Had she finally come to her senses ? He picked it up , only to see an unfamiliar number on the screen . The hope in his eyes faded just as quickly . Irritated , he answered , " Hello ? " " Greetings , is this Mr. Theodore Brooke ? I'm outside the villa with a package from Ms. Clarisse Hart . It requires a signature . " A package from Clarisse ! Joy bloomed within Theodore's chest . He knew it . She was just being a little difficult . Deep down , she still cared for him . Even on her trip , she had thought of him and sent him a gift . He only regretted that his gift had not reached her yet . He could already picture her face lighting up when she opened it . " Let the butler sign for it , " Theodore replied , the corners of his mouth unable to hide the smile spreading through them . " Alright , Mr. Brooke . " Theodore hung up the call and bolted downstairs , grabbing his car keys on the way . He floored the gas back to the villa , running nine red lights . If Clarisse was willing to be the first to make peace , then he would not keep her waiting . Tomorrow - no , now - he would book a flight and go to her . The moment he stepped into the villa , he spotted a document envelope sitting on the entryway table . A document envelope ? Confused , he hesitated . Was the gift from Clarisse a postcard ? Then , he remembered those 99 love letters he had once written to her . Could it be that she was sending him one ? Warmth and anticipation welled up in his chest . Just as he reached for the envelope , a voice carried from behind the ajar master bedroom door . It was Blanca , her tone low and deliberate , like she was on a call with someone , " Even with the baby . Theo still can't stop thinking about that Clarisse . If she hadn't shown up , I would've been married to him already and become the rightful Mrs. Brooke . The really did love her . I drugged him and slept with him , but once he sobered up , he still refused to be with me ! ll was so pissed . I went and found a guy who looked kind of like him . Guess what ? I ended up pregnant thought bringing the kid to him would change everything , but he'd rather let his father beat him to a pulp than let us stay ! What a fool ! Thank God you gave me an idea . I moved the kid into a house overflowing with formaldehyde and let him breathe it in till he got leukemia . That finally gave me a way back into Theo's life . Once this baby gets further along , I'll figure out a way to get rid of Caleb . He's not even Theo's , after all . It's too risky to keep him around . We can't afford to let the touth sip ou Theodore froze in place like he had been struck by lightning . Caleb was never his child ? Bianca had deliberately made Caleb get leukemia , just to get close to him A woman that evil and twisted … He suddenly began to question everything that had happened lately . Had it all been part of Bianca's twisted plan ? His car keys slipped from his hand and hit the floor . The sharp sound cut through the house , and silence fell behind the bedroom door . A second later , Blanca burst out in a panic , face devoid of color . Her eyes widened the moment she saw him . Terror was written all over her face . She forced out a stiff smile and stammered , " Theo ? Aren't you supposed to be at work ? W - Why are you Theodore remained quiet . He just stared at her coldly . There was a fury in his eyes that Bianca had never seen before . Chapter 11 2/3 A chill sent her shivering . She realized he had heard everything . " Theo , wait - let me explain . That was just me … just me talking nonsense ! I- " Her voice broke from fear . She lunged forward , trying to grab his arm , her mind racing to come up with a lie . " Explain ? " His roar thundered . The veins at his temples throbbed . Bianca stumbled backward , crashing into the doorframe . Her eyes were wide with horror . " Explain how you drugged me ? Explain how you tricked me with that bastard child ? Explain how you framed Clarisse ? Bianca , you vicious , disgusting woman ! " His hand lifted high , fury driving him to the edge . For a moment , he wanted to strike her across the face . Each word hit like a hammer , shattering the last scraps of hope inside Bianca . Her face turned the color of paper . She dropped to the floor , shaking uncontrollably . Clutching the hem of his pants , she sobbed desperately , " No … No , it's not true . You misunderstood . I only did it because … because I loved you too much ! I didn't know what else to do ! " Theo , we grew up together ! I've loved you since we were kids , and my biggest dream was to marry you ! Why won't you ever look at me ? " Why is it always that bitch Clarisse ! " " Don't you dare say her name ! " Theodore roared . His eyes blazed with rage and regret , veins bulging around them . " If it weren't for you , Clarisse wouldn't be mad at me . She wouldn't be disappointed in me . " She's so gentle and understanding ! It's you , you twisted witch , stepping between us with your schemes and lies ! " Clarisse's pale and exhausted face surfaced in his mind . The empty , broken eyes and all her feelings he chose to ignore all burned through him like red - hot metal , suffocating him with the pain . How could he have been so blind ? How could he hurt the one woman he swore to protect , over and over again , for someone like Bianca ? Guilt and remorse crashed over him like a tidal wave . His hand rose again , ready to strike that vile face that disgusted him . " Bad Daddy ! Don't hit Mommy ! " A tiny figure rushed out from the nursery , crying . 173 Chapter 12