Chapter 149: Chapter 149 Big bro was falling for Bella Leonardo slowly got up from his chair.
. Jay blinked, confused. "Bro?"
Leonardo circled the desk, then in one swift motion grabbed Jay by the collar and yanked him up.
Jayâs eyes widened.
"What theâ?! Bro! What are youâ?"
Leonardoâs voice was a low growl.
"Shut. Your. Mouth." His grip was so tight that Jay felt his breath catch.
"Youâre talking about my wife," Leonardo hissed, his gray eyes flashing like a brewing storm. "Donât ever joke like that again. Ever."
Jay swallowed hard. "Whoa... Chill! I was just joking! You know me, Iâm the funny one, remember?"
Leonardo shoved him lightly back into the chair.
"Sheâs your sister-in-law. Show some respect."
Jay blinked rapidly, trying to process what just happened. He straightened his collar and cleared his throat.
"...Okay, that reaction definitely wasnât normal," he muttered under his breath. "You looked like you were ready to bite someone."
Leonardo turned his back to him, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Jay smirked.
And thatâs when he realizedâ
Oh. Ohhhh. His brother was serious.
He wasnât just irritated. He was furious. Possessive. Territorial.
And that reaction?
That wasnât from someone who saw Bella as just a stand-in bride.
Jay gulped.
Then grinned.
So he was right after all.
Big bro was falling for Bella. Jay walked to the door, casually fixing his collar that Leo had just wrinkled up like paper. But just as he was about to leave, he paused, turning slightly to glance over his shoulder.
His eyes landed on his big brotherâLeonardo Morettiâthe same man feared in business and mafia circles, now just... standing there, still staring at his phone like a high school boy.
Jayâs lips curved with mischief.
"By the way, bro..." he said casually, twisting the metaphorical knife with a wicked grin, "you know, the way Bella sends me every single update about her dayâher favorite ice cream flavor, what she bought, what songs sheâs learning, even which plushie she didnât buyâitâs so cute, right?"
Leonardo didnât react. Not even a blink.
Jay pushed on.
"If an outsider saw us, they might think sheâs my wife instead of yours."
That did it.
Leonardoâs head snapped up, and his gray eyes locked onto Jay like a missile. His expression didnât change but the sudden stillness, the quiet tension in his jaw, and the dangerous way he dropped his phone on the desk said everything.
Jayâs heart skipped.
"Uh-oh."
Leonardo took one step forward. Then another. Silent. Lethal.
Jay was already bolting.
"WAIT, BRO! DONâT YOU HAVE A MEETING? YOU HATE BEING LATE! YOU HATE BEING LATEEEEâAAAAH!!"
His shrieks echoed through the hallway as he dashed like his life depended on it. "MONSTER! HEâS CHASING MEEE!!"
After Bella returned from shopping, she was more nervous than ever. The whole ride back, she had been glued to her phoneâgoogling things like "how do mean girls talk," "how to act like a bossy girl," and "how to look like confident women." Scarlett wouldâve been proud. She even downloaded a free e-book titled "Ice Queen 101: Be Pretty, Powerful and Unbothered," but she barely had time to read the first three rules before the car pulled up outside the house. Now she was back. Standing by the entrance, her hand still gripping the strap of the shopping bag that carried her secret weaponâthe dress. She stepped inside. She walked slowly through the entrance hall, her feet tapping lightly against the floor, and then paused. There he was. Leonardo. Sitting on the long velvet couch in the living room. His legs crossed with casual dominance, one arm resting lazily on the armrest, the other hand rapidly typing something on his phone. He hadnât noticed her yet. Or maybe... he had, and just didnât show it. He looked impossibly handsome. His black shirt was rolled up at the sleeves, and the way it clung to his body made her throat go dry. His dark hair was slightly messy, like heâd run his hand through it again and again while working. His expression was calm but his jawline, the subtle flex of muscle as he tapped on his phone, the quiet focus in his eyes... everything about him looked effortless. Sharp. Distractingly gorgeous. She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to calm her heartbeat. Was he really taking her to dinner tonight? With Stella? And if he wasâwhy? Did he like her? Did he feel anything? Bella tightened her grip on the bag and tried to steady her breathing. Bella had just started walking past him, her eyes fixed ahead, pretending not to notice the way his gaze followed her every step. Her grip on the shopping bag was tight, her shoulders pulled back to look confidentâjust like Scarlett told her. Walk like you donât care. Walk like you own the room. But inside, her nerves were tangled like wires.
After Bella returned from shopping, she was more nervous than ever. The whole ride back, she had been glued to her phoneâgoogling things like "how do mean girls talk," "how to act like a bossy girl," and "how to look like confident women." Scarlett wouldâve been proud. She even downloaded a free e-book titled "Ice Queen 101: Be Pretty, Powerful and Unbothered," but she barely had time to read the first three rules before the car pulled up outside the house. Now she was back. Standing by the entrance, her hand still gripping the strap of the shopping bag that carried her secret weaponâthe dress. She stepped inside. She walked slowly through the entrance hall, her feet tapping lightly against the floor, and then paused. There he was. Leonardo. Sitting on the long velvet couch in the living room. His legs crossed with casual dominance, one arm resting lazily on the armrest, the other hand rapidly typing something on his phone. He hadnât noticed her yet. Or maybe... he had, and just didnât show it. He looked impossibly handsome. His black shirt was rolled up at the sleeves, and the way it clung to his body made her throat go dry. His dark hair was slightly messy, like heâd run his hand through it again and again while working. His expression was calm but his jawline, the subtle flex of muscle as he tapped on his phone, the quiet focus in his eyes... everything about him looked effortless. Sharp. Distractingly gorgeous. She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to calm her heartbeat. Was he really taking her to dinner tonight? With Stella? And if he wasâwhy? Did he like her? Did he feel anything? Bella tightened her grip on the bag and tried to steady her breathing. Bella had just started walking past him, her eyes fixed ahead, pretending not to notice the way his gaze followed her every step. Her grip on the shopping bag was tight, her shoulders pulled back to look confidentâjust like Scarlett told her. Walk like you donât care. Walk like you own the room. But inside, her nerves were tangled like wires.
Then his voice cut through the silence like a slow knife.
"Bella." She stopped instantly, her spine straightening, every part of her turning stiff like a board. Her fingers froze around the strap of the bag as she turned slowly toward him, trying not to let her face show what her heart was doing.
"Y-yeah?" she asked, her voice softer than she wanted it to be.
Leonardo didnât stand. He just lowered his phone, resting it on the armrest, his gray eyes calmly lifting to meet hers. But something in them was off. Like still water hiding something dangerous underneath.
"You didnât use my card," he said, not asking but stating, as if he had been waiting. Waiting to see the notification. Waiting to be included.
Bella blinked, her lips parting for a second. Then she straightened her posture a little and nodded, keeping her voice neutral. "Yes. I didnât use your card."
Silence settled between them, heavy and quiet.
Leonardo didnât say anything for a moment. He just looked at her, his lips pressed into a line that wasnât quite a frown but wasnât pleased either. Then he simply muttered, "Alright."
That was it. Bella gave a quick nod and walked away, faster than she intended. Her feet carried her toward the stairs like they had a mind of their own, and she didnât look back even once.
She didnât notice how, the moment she disappeared around the corner, Leonardoâs jaw tensed.