Scarlett’s mouth fell open, and then she laughed so hard she nearly dropped her phone. "Bella!! Don’t tease like that! You’ll make actually fall for you."
Bella laughed too, covering her mouth as Scarlett kept snapping photo after photo. "Stoppp, Scar! If you post these I’ll be dood!" she giggled.
Scarlett smirked, tilting her phone. "Relax, Isaac. These are for only. My collection of handso boyfriends needs at least one picture of you."
Bella’s cheeks heated up, but before she could protest, a chill crept down her spine. The hairs on her neck stood as she felt a sharp, cold gaze cut across the café. Slowly, she turned and froze.
Zion.
He stood near the entrance, broad shoulders frad by a dark suit, his expression like carved stone. The warm, approachable man Bella had always seen around Leo was nowhere to be found. This version of Zion radiated a coldness that could freeze the air. His eyes narrowed slightly, locked straight on her disguised figure.
Bella leaned toward Scarlett, whispering frantically, "Why is Zion looking at like that? He looks like he’s about to murder ."
Scarlett’s smile vanished, her expression tightening. "Because he doesn’t look at people unless he wants answers. You should leave, Bella. Before he gets too close."
Bella swallowed hard, nodded, and hurriedly flagged down the waiter. She shoved bills onto the tray, grabbed her bag, and with a forced calmness, slipped out of the café.
Only once her footsteps disappeared did Zion move. His presence was like a storm following the quiet. He walked over to Scarlett’s table with asured strides and sat across from her. The weight of his gaze pinned her in place.
"So..." His voice was low, heavy, dangerous. "You’re seeing soone."
Scarlett lifted her chin, refusing to flinch. "Why should it matter to you? You’re my boss. My private life has nothing to do with my job."
Zion’s jaw clenched, the muscle twitching as he studied her face. His hand, resting on the table, curled into a slow fist. The ice in his eyes did not lt.
"You’re right," he said evenly, his tone calm but carrying an edge sharp enough to cut. "Your life is your own. But rember this. Your choices affect more than just you."
Scarlett frowned, leaning back in her chair, arms folded. "What do you even an by that? He’s just my friend! Are you satisfied now?" Her voice carried a bite, her dark eyes flashing with defiance.
For a mont, Zion’s cold expression softened. His gaze lingered on her, unreadable, before he spoke in a quieter tone. "So you want sothing? Fine. The bill’s on ."
Scarlett rolled her eyes so hard it was almost dramatic. "Really? That’s what you have to say?" she muttered. To the world, Zion Wu was the picture of calm, gentle, polite, a man who looked almost scholarly in his deanor. But she knew better. Behind that serene mask was soone dangerous, soone who could freeze a room with just a look.
And sohow, she had caught his attention. The thought made her stomach twist in both annoyance and sothing else she refused to na.
"I have sothing to say," Zion continued, his voice dipping lower.
"I’m not marrying you," Scarlett blurted instantly, her words sharp as a knife.
One corner of his mouth twitched upward in the faintest hint of amusent. "I’ll ask that later," he murmured, as if the subject wasn’t off the table at all. "Right now, I wanted to talk about the project you’re handling."
"Fine," Scarlett said, tossing her hair back, smirking. "Go ahead, boss. But since you’re discussing work outside of office hours, I expect extra pay. Compensation for my suffering, you know."
His eyes glinted, and for the first ti, she saw his lips curve into a real smile. Not the fake polite, practiced kind he wore in public, but sothing genuine—sothing dangerously charming.
"I don’t mind," Zion said smoothly. His smile was warm enough to unsettle her, yet sharp enough to remind her he wasn’t a man to underestimate.
Scarlett blinked, montarily dazed. She had never seen him smile like that before. For a second, her breath hitched, and she cursed inwardly. Damn it. Why did this man have to be so annoyingly attractive when he wanted to be?
************
anwhile, after a whole day of sneaking around and pushing herself, Bella was so tired that she skipped her usual TV dramas and went straight to bed, curling under the blanket like a little cocoon.
Just like that, two more days passed. Nonna ca early each morning to see her and left just as quickly, always leaving Bella smiling and lighter in heart. But in those days, Bella had ignored more calls than she should have. Jay had been blowing up her phone, and she refused to pick up. Even Leo called her more than once, but she left his na flashing on the screen and turned her head away. It wasn’t intentional, she really was exhausted. Between hiding her double life and working long hours on William’s project, she barely had the strength to keep her eyes open, let alone make cheerful conversations.
By now, her work with William’s server was almost done. She only needed one more day, then her secret would finally be complete.
But on the other side of the city, Leonardo’s mood had sunk darker than nightfall. His bunny wasn’t answering him. His jaw clenched every ti the call went to voicemail, and he could only listen to the irritating reports from the maid.
"Sir... madam has been going out shopping every day. When she returns, she looks exhausted and very fatigued."
The mont Leo heard that, his expression hardened. Shopping daily? Bella wasn’t that type of woman. He knew her well enough. She wasn’t shallow, she wasn’t greedy for things. So why was she suddenly slipping out every day, returning drained? His suspicion twisted sharper.
He hung up, his gray eyes narrowing as his fingers tapped once against his desk. Sothing wasn’t adding up.
Before his thoughts could settle, his phone rang again. This ti, it was the lab.
"Sir, the substance you provided us for testing..." the technician’s voice was tight. "It contains harmful chemicals designed to destabilize the nervous system. Even in tiny doses, it can make a person ntally unstable, cause hallucinations, illusions, paranoia. If more than 0.300 grams are ingested, it could cause irreversible damage. Serious consequences. Possibly..."
The man’s voice hesitated, but Leo didn’t need to hear the rest. His entire face darkened.
"Send the full report," Leo said flatly, his voice like ice.
"Yes, sir. We’ll mail it imdiately."
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