"I heard sister-in-law is going to college?" Hazel asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah."
Leo’s face softened, just slightly, at the ntion of Bella. Hazel noticed.
"You should take her on more dates," Hazel said, her voice teasing but sharp. "When was the last ti you went on a date?"
Leo’s jaw tightened. "That’s none of your business."
"It’s my business when my brother might lose his wife to so young, handso classmate." Hazel tilted her head. "College boys are very persistent, I hear. Very charming. Very available."
Leo’s gray eyes darkened. "Bella is loyal."
"So was Nicolas." Hazel’s voice was flat. "At least, I thought he was."
Leo’s expression flickered. A sore point. She had aid and hit.
"Bella is nothing like Nicolas," he said, his voice low.
"Of course not, I know. But she’s young. And you’re... busy." Hazel gestured at the office, the docunts, the weight of his world. "When was the last ti you took her out? Really out? Dinner. Dancing. Sothing that wasn’t business?"
Leo was silent.
"That’s what I thought." Hazel leaned back, crossing her arms.
"You should find soone good too," Leo said, his voice cold. "You shouldn’t worry about your brother’s wife. Worry about yourself. Your love life is nonexistent."
Hazel’s jaw tightened. "I’m not interested in dating right now."
"Because of the scar?"
"Because I don’t want to."
"Or because you’re afraid?"
Hazel’s eyes flashed. "I’m not afraid of anything."
"Then why haven’t you gone out with Dominique? He’s clearly interested."
Hazel’s cheeks flushed. "Dominique is helping with my surgery. That’s all."
"He’s also a prince. Handso. Rich. And clearly smitten." Leo’s voice was dry. "But you’re not interested."
"I’m not."
"Because of the scar."
"Because I’m not ready."
"Sa thing."
Hazel’s hands curled into fists. "You’re impossible."
"I’m honest." Leo leaned forward. "You hide behind your scar. You always have. Even before Nicolas, you hid. The mask wasn’t just for your face. It was for everything."
Hazel’s face went pale. "You don’t know what you’re talking about."
"I know you. Better than anyone." Leo’s voice was quiet, but it cut. "You’re scared. Not of surger, not of pain... Of being seen...Of being loved...Of being rejected again."
Hazel stood abruptly. "I should go."
"Sit down."
She glared at him.
"Sit. Down."
She sat.
"You’re getting the surgery. That’s good. That’s brave." Leo’s voice softened, just slightly. "But the scar isn’t your problem, Hazel. It never was. Your problem is that you stopped believing you deserved to be happy."
Hazel’s eyes glistened. "You’re being cruel."
"I’m being honest. You said you wanted honesty."
She looked away.
"Dominique looks at you like you’re the only woman in the room," Leo continued. "He doesn’t see the scar. He sees you. And you’re pushing him away because you’re scared."
"I’m not pushing him away."
"You’re keeping him at arm’s length. You’re pretending this is just about surgery. About gratitude." Leo paused. "But it’s not. And you know it."
Hazel was silent.
"Take your own advice," she said finally, her voice cold. "Take Bella on a date. Before she realizes she deserves soone who isn’t married to his work."
Leo’s jaw tightened. "I’ll handle my marriage."
"And I’ll handle my love life."
They glared at each other. Neither blinked.
"Fine," Leo said.
"Fine," Hazel said.
They sat in silence, the afternoon sun warm on their faces.
"Dominique is a good man," Leo said finally.
Hazel looked at him, surprised. "I know."
"Don’t push him away because you’re scared."
"I’m not scared."
"You are. But that’s okay." Leo leaned back. "Just don’t let fear make decisions for you. You’ve done that long enough."
Hazel was quiet for a long mont. Then she nodded.
"Take Bella on a date," she said.
"I will."
"Sowhere nice. Not business."
"I know how to take my wife on a date."
"Clearly you don’t, or I wouldn’t have to remind you."
Leo’s lips twitched. "You’re annoying."
"So are you."
They looked at each other. Two cold smiles. Matching. Understanding.
Hazel stood. "I should go. Pre-op appointnts."
Leo nodded. "Keep updated."
"I will."
She walked to the door, then paused. "Leo?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you for caring."
He inclined his head. "You’re family."
Hazel left.
Leo sat in the quiet, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across his desk, thinking about Bella. About dates. About young n on campus.
To be honest, he was worried.
Not about her loyalty, never about that. But about the distance that had crept into their lives without either of them noticing. He was busy with work, drowning in etings and contracts and the endless demands of running an empire. And now Bella was busy too, with college work, assignnts, study groups, new friends. Her days were full in ways they hadn’t been before.
They had dinner together most nights. Sotis breakfast, if he wasn’t already gone. And at night they were both exhausted after long days.
But the talking, the long, lazy conversations that used to stretch into the early hours, those had faded. They still talked, of course. They still shared the important things. But not like before. Not the way he missed.
He rubbed his temples, staring at the city below.
Maybe he should arrange a date very soon.
It was the second ti soone had told him Bella might leave him.
First Alexa, twisted, hateful Alexa, who had tried to plant poison in his mind. He had dismissed her words easily. She was cruel and desperate and wrong.
But now Hazel had said it too. Not cruelly. Not even seriously. Just teasing. A sharp jab ant to provoke, to annoy, to make him think.
And it had worked.
He knew Hazel didn’t an it the way Alexa had. She wasn’t threatening or warning. She was just poking. Because that was what they did. They poked each other’s sore spots, tested each other’s armor, loved each other in the only way they knew how.
But the words had lodged themselves in his chest anyway.
She could have anyone. She’s young. Lots of young n on campus.
He shouldn’t overthink this. He trusted Bella. Completely. Absolutely. Without reservation.
Bella took every relationship seriously, every friendship, every connection. She loved deeply and fiercely without holding back. She would do anything for the people she cared about. She had proven that again and again.
And he was special to her. He knew that. She had chosen him, married him, stayed with him through injuries and cold silences and his own stubborn pride. She wasn’t soone who was swayed by youth or charm or the attention of handso boys. She was soone who loved with her whole heart and her heart belonged to him.
Thinking about this made him smile.
He thought about her cute face when she pouted at him, her bottom lip jutting out, her brown eyes wide and accusing. He thought about the way she talked to him, her voice animated, her hands flying, her words tumbling over each other in their rush to escape. He thought about the way she beca naughty, that mischievous glint in her eyes, that sly smile, the way she bit her lip when she was plotting sothing.
His smile widened.
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