Chapter 159: His Only Weakness

The bodyguard nodded. "If you don't believe me, you can call to confirm."

Bella waved her hand. She believed him. After all, only the Sawyer family could pull off something like this. She had saved Daniel's life on the operating table, and now Leonard had saved hers.

They brought her to a luxurious villa by the river. It wasn't Sawyer Manor, which puzzled Bella. "Where is this?"

The bodyguard replied, "This is Mr. Sawyer's private residence. He had something to take care of but will be back in about half an hour. He told me to make sure you don't wander off on your own and to have you wait for him here."

Feeling uneasy, Bella stepped into the living room and sat down. An older woman, her hair streaked with white, brought over a tray of fruit and tea.

"It's the first time I've seen Mr. Sawyer bring someone home," she said. "Don't be shy, make yourself at home."

Bella noticed the woman had misunderstood. "Oh no, it's not like that… We're just friends. My brother is one of his good friends."

However, the woman didn't seem to believe her. She simply gave Bella a knowing smile before walking away.

Bella let out a breath, feeling awkward. Once alone, she examined the villa. The design was sleek and modern, with understated luxury. It was exactly what she expected from Leonard's taste. True to the bodyguard's word, Leonard arrived exactly half an hour later.

The moment she saw him, Bella rushed over, asking, "What's going on? Who were those people?"

Leonard's expression was serious. "They were sent by the Yates family. They're trying to use you to blackmail Dominic into not returning because you're his only weakness."

Bella understood immediately. She was the only person Dominic had left who could be considered family, making her his greatest vulnerability.

She asked angrily, "What do they want by keeping Dominic away? What are they trying to achieve?"

Leonard glanced at her and replied, "They want to force him into a marriage."

Bella froze in disbelief. "They think they can force him into marriage? Do they really believe a forced marriage will work? Are they planning to keep him imprisoned for life? Or will they let him go after the wedding? The moment he's free, do they really think he'll acknowledge that marriage? It's ridiculous!"

Leonard explained, "That's why they'll do whatever it takes to keep you under their control, using you to pressure Dominic until he gives in. For now, it's safer for you to stay here. Don't go back to the hospital. You'll be more secure under my watch."

Hearing his words, Bella's heart sank. Using her to blackmail Dominic indefinitely? If captured by the Yates family, she wouldn't be free until Dominic gave in. Knowing his stubborn nature, she could be locked away forever. Worse, if they grew tired of waiting, they might kill her.

Piecing it all together, Bella asked, "How long do I need to stay here? Give me a rough idea so I can let the hospital know I'll be away for a while."

Leonard sighed. "You won't be safe until Dominic returns. Until this situation is resolved, I can't give you an exact timeline. However, make yourself comfortable. You can treat this place as your own. I'll have someone buy whatever you need, including clothes and personal items… You don't have to worry about a thing. The only downside is, you can't leave."

Bella nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Leonard."

The extraneous text at the end was removed as it appears to be an advertisement. Grammar, punctuation, and word choice were corrected throughout for clarity and flow.