After dinner, Bella felt warm and lighthearted for the first ti in days. She humd to herself as she carried her empty glass back to the kitchen, thanking Aunt Clara when she took it from her hands. Her bare feet padded softly across the cold floor as she made her way upstairs, her mind filled with sweet, hopeful thoughts.
Maybe tomorrow I’ll bake cookies for Jay, Alessandro and Lina... And maybe I can sneak one to Leo too, if he wants...
The thought of Leo made her heart flutter, even if she still felt shy. A tiny, silly smile curved her lips. He was looking at differently today... wasn’t he? Maybe... She pressed her fingertips to her warm cheek. Maybe he doesn’t hate so much anymore.
She walked up the staircase, swinging her plushie keychain in her hand. Alessandro had given it to her, saying he saw it in a shop and thought she’d like it. He was so kind—it made a soft warmth bloom in her chest.
Just then, she heard it — Jay’s voice. He was sowhere near the study or the balcony. He didn’t sound playful like usual. He sounded tense, almost shocked.
Bella paused. She knew she shouldn’t listen. But sothing about the tone of his voice made her toes curl against the cold step. She leaned closer, her small fra hidden behind the railing.
"She’s back?" Jay’s voice echoed low, his words vibrating in Bella’s ears.
Bella blinked. She? Who? Her fingers clutched the keychain tighter.
"And what — she’s the one who helped us?" Jay scoffed, letting out a sharp breath. "No way. Investigate Ford. Get the truth. Stella asked her friend to fix our company ss? It doesn’t add up. I don’t even think that hacker’s the one who really did it..."
Bella’s heartbeat slamd in her chest. Stella? The na made her stomach twist. She’s... back?
Jay’s voice dropped lower, but she heard every word, like poison dripping into her veins.
"Brother agreed to have dinner with her, too...
But why Stella’s friend would even do this for us? Maybe Ford’s lying altogether..."
Bella’s mouth fell open. Her legs felt weak like they’d dissolve into the floor. Her plushie keychain slipped from her fingers and hit the step with a tiny thump.
Stella... The na echoed over and over. She’s the one who helped them?
But she helped them. She and her friend worked together, and she even made their firewall stronger...
She’d done it for him. For Jay. For the family. She never asked for thanks but... Stella?
A hot tear slipped down her cheek. She didn’t even realize she was crying. Her chest squeezed so tight she couldn’t breathe.
Dinner. He’s out having dinner with her. That’s why he didn’t co ho for dinner.
A mory flashed through Bella’s mind... Leo’s eyes, always unreadable but sotis so soft when he looked at her. The way his voice went quiet when he told her not to be careless. The way he said her na when she fell.
It was nothing. Her mind scread at her. It was always nothing.
She took a step back, her heel catching on the stair. The cold banister pressed into her palm as she steadied herself. She didn’t want to hear any more — she couldn’t. She didn’t want to know if Jay said more, or if Leo would co ho tonight slling like another woman’s perfu.
She picked up the keychain and stumbled down the hallway, her feet barely touching the floor. When she reached her room, she fumbled with the handle, pushed the door open with her shoulder, then slamd it shut and locked it with trembling hands.
Her eyes fell to her reflection in the vanity mirror. She looked pitiful — flushed cheeks, eyes wet and wide like a kicked puppy. She hated that face.
Stupid. The word throbbed in her skull. Stupid girl. He was never yours.
She crawled onto her bed, burying her face in Berry’s soft fur. She pressed her lips together to stop the sob that clawed its way up her throat but it escaped anyway, muffled by her plushie.
He was never yours. Her tears soaked her pillow. Her thoughts spun in a ss of jealousy and sha. She’s back. She’s beautiful. She’s smart. He loves her, maybe he always did...
And she — she was nothing but a placeholder.
In the quiet room, Bella’s tiny, broken hiccups filled the air.
In the dark, she thought she heard her own heart whisper: Run.Before he throws you away.
Back on the balcony, Jay rubbed the back of his neck, still holding the phone against his ear. The person on the other end was trying to calm him down, but he couldn’t stop pacing.
"Thank God... Bro didn’t believe her so easily," Jay muttered under his breath, glancing around the hallway behind him but never noticing the shadow of small feet that had already slipped away. "Seriously, what is Stella thinking? Suddenly claiming it was her friend who saved our company? Like my brother’s that easy to fool..."
He let out a short, frustrated laugh. "No way. Bro’s planning sothing... He told to act like I bought it, but he’ll pull out that fake hacker soon enough. He hates liars — you know him..."
Jay’s tone softened, a hint of fondness slipping in. "And he wants to find the real one too. Whoever helped us that night... deserves everything. And I swear when we find them, Bro will make sure they’re rewarded ten tis over. I bet it’s soone close — maybe even... ah, forget it. Gotta go."
Jay ended the call with a deep exhale, finally feeling that knot of tension in his chest loosen up. He leaned on the railing of the stairs, a grin slowly tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Ha! Stella really thought Bro would fall for that?" he scoffed under his breath, shaking his head in amusent. "She has no idea how sharp he is..."
He brushed a hand through his hair, the soft pink strands catching the warm hallway light and let out a small laugh. From behind, a housemaid passing by gave him a confused glance, but Jay just flashed her his signature bright smile.
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