Cassidy frowned, folding her arms. "I didn’t freeze up! You said it was just to make a good impression. I didn’t know I was walking into an interview with a damn cyborg!"
"That cyborg was supposed to be my husband!" Stella scread. "Until you and your stupid acting ruined everything!"
Cassidy’s face twisted in anger. "Don’t bla for your ss, Stella. You’re the one who ran away before the wedding. You’re the one who ca crawling back after he married so random girl."
"That random girl stole my place!"
"She’s living your life better than you ever could," Cassidy said coldly. "And you hate her for it."
Stella’s lips parted in shock.
But Cassidy wasn’t done.
"You know what I saw in that office? He didn’t even look at you. Not once."
Stella slapped her.
The sound echoed in the parking lot, sharp and fast.
Cassidy stood still, stunned, her cheek turning red.
"I made you," Stella whispered, voice trembling with rage. "You had nothing. You were just a sidekick in college. I gave you money, I brought you here, and all you had to do was act like a decent hacker. That’s all. And you couldn’t even do that."
Cassidy wiped her cheek, her eyes turning hard. "Don’t ever call again."
And with that, she walked away.
Stella stood there, breathing hard, her chest rising and falling.
***
Bella had just finished watching everything. She closed her laptop gently, letting out a breath of relief.
Thank goodness... Leonardo hadn’t believed Stella’s lies.
That fake hacker girl didn’t fool him either.
Still, a small shadow of worry lingered in her chest. What if... soone else cos again? With better lies... smarter tricks?
She pursed her lips and shut her laptop fully this ti, clearing every trace she left behind. It was better not to take risks.
Feeling a little tired—and hungry—Bella decided to grab a snack.
She padded barefoot down the hallway, her soft ponytail swinging gently behind her, and turned toward the kitchen. The house was quiet at this ti of day. Peaceful.
But just as she passed the dining hall, she noticed one of the maids standing nearby, holding sothing in her hand.
"Ma’am?" the maid called softly.
Bella blinked and turned. "Yes?"
"This just arrived for you and Sir Leonardo. The delivery man said it had to be handed to him directly."
Bella tilted her head and walked over. "What is it?"
The maid handed her a beautifully printed card, sealed with a rose-gold sticker.
Bella opened it slowly.
The mont her eyes scanned the nas, her heart skipped.
Alexa DeLuna & Archer Wyatt.
Wedding Ceremony.
Three days from now.
Her eyes widened so big they almost popped out.
"Wha... what?" she whispered.
She blinked again. But the words didn’t change.
Her fingers gripped the edge of the card.
Alexa... was getting married?But... she loved Leo, didn’t she?
All this ti... wasn’t she trying to get him back?
All the cruel things she said to Bella. All the stares, the insults, the drama. She even fought with her—over Leo.
Bella stood frozen in the hallway, her lips parted in disbelief.
"She’s... getting married?" she murmured again, almost to herself.
It made no sense.
She quietly turned, walked into the kitchen, and picked a cookie from the jar, but didn’t eat it. She just stood there by the counter.
Staring blankly at the tile floor.
For so reason... this strange news didn’t make her feel relieved. Or happy.
Just... confused.
After having lunch, Bella had her usual guitar class with Theo. She was getting better—he even said her fingers moved more confidently now, and that made her glow with pride. After Theo left, she changed into her comfortable soft pyjamas and decided to work on her laptop.
As she logged in, a soft ding caught her attention.
It was from her website’s private custor chat system.
SweetTooth had ssaged her.
SweetTooth (30 minutes ago):
What are you doing??
Bella’s lips curved into a smile. That na always made her feel strange... like a warm tickle in her chest.
BellaZone:
i am Sorry for late reply, I had class.
He replied instantly.
SweetTooth:
Oh? What kind of class?
BellaZone:
Guitar.
SweetTooth:
Cool! Do you love guitar?
She smiled wider now.
BellaZone:
Yes. it makes feel amazed and lost.
like... i forget everything around .
even if my fingers hurt a little sotis... i feel happy inside.
On the other side of the city, Leonardo was sitting in his office, staring at the screen with a small, invisible smile tugging at his lips.
He rested his jaw on his fist, reading the ssage again and again.
She really gets lost in it...
His chest felt tight for no reason.
SweetTooth:
that sounds... peaceful.
do you sing too?
BellaZone:
*Shy face emoji* hmm a little.
not good tho.
He chuckled.
SweetTooth:
i bet you sound good.
people who love sothing usually glow when they do it.
Bella blinked.
She wasn’t expecting that. Glow?
Her heart fluttered a little. It felt like soone saw sothing in her that even she didn’t notice.
BellaZone:
thank you. you’re sweet.
do you play any instrunts?
There was a pause before he answered. She imagined him thinking for a second like he didn’t want to lie.
SweetTooth:
no. never tried.
but i think i’d like to watch soone play.
Bella covered her face with both hands.
What the heck was that?! That’s so soft!!
BellaZone:
really? isn’t it kinda boring to watch?
SweetTooth:
not if the person is interesting.
and passionate.
i think that would be very nice to watch.
Her mouth fell open a little.
Her heart thumped in her ears. She looked away from the screen, blinking fast. What was going on?
BellaZone:
you sound like soone who notices small things.
SweetTooth:
i do.
BellaZone:
i like that.
She stared at those last words for a second before quickly adding:
BellaZone:
i an—not in weird way lol. *Shy face emoji*
He didn’t reply for a minute.
Then finally—
SweetTooth:
i didn’t take it in a weird way.
i like talking to you.
Bella froze.
Her lips parted.
She had to read that line twice.
Leonardo leaned back in his chair with the faintest smile on his lips. He ran a hand through his hair, and for once, it wasn’t because he was stressed.
It was because he was warm inside.
And because his little bunny had just told him she liked how he noticed the small things.
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