Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Taking Isabella to a Bar Lina arrived at the mansion next week stepping out of her luxury car with her usual grace and elegance. The staff quickly lined up to greet her but her eyes scanned the front steps until they landed on one person...Isabella.
đđđŚâŻđ¸đŚđđđđˇâŻđ.đđđ Isabella ran down barefoot, still in her soft home dress, her face glowing with the kind of pure happiness rarely seen in this cold mansion.
"Mom!" she called out, her eyes bright like a child.
Lina, who was usually reserved and unreadable, felt something flicker in her chest. A warmth she hadnât expected. A softness she hadnât felt in a long time. Her eyes, always sharp and distant, softened as she opened her arms and Isabella rushed into them without hesitation.
"Careful, child," Lina chuckled, brushing back a loose strand of Isabellaâs hair. "Youâll make me fall."
Isabella grinned. "I missed you!"
"I can see that," Lina replied, unable to hide the hint of a smile playing at her lips. "Youâve grown prettier since I last saw you. This house must suit you."
Isabellaâs cheeks turned pink. "Itâs because of you. You treat me like family."
Lina said nothing to that. Instead, she handed over a beautifully wrapped velvet box. "For you."
Isabella blinked in surprise. "A gift? For me?"
"Of course. A small gift for my daughter-in-law," Lina said smoothly. "Open it."
With trembling hands and excitement bubbling inside her, Isabella carefully untied the ribbon and lifted the lid. Her eyes widened in awe.
Inside was a delicate butterfly-shaped pendant necklace, made of pure white gold, with wings crafted from moonstone and soft blue gems. It sparkled like something out of a fairytale.
"Itâs... beautiful," Isabella whispered, completely stunned. "Are you sure this is for me?"
Lina nodded, her voice low but fond. "It reminded me of you. Gentle, soft... but wings like those can fly very far."
Isabellaâs eyes filled with emotion, and she threw her arms around Lina again.
"Iâll treasure it forever," she said.
And for the first time in a long time, Lina hugged someone back genuinely. This little girl might have been thrust into a world she didnât belong to, but she was blooming just fine.
And Lina... was beginning to like her more than she ever expected.
"Cough."
The sharp sound made both Lina and Isabella turn their heads.
Leonardo stood at the entrance, his tall frame slightly leaning to one side, one hand in his pocket, the other adjusting the sleeve of his suit. His cold gray eyes were fixed on the two womenâspecifically on his mother, who was still embracing Isabella like a long-lost daughter.
He looked... shocked.
More than shocked...almost betrayed.
Because in his entire life, Lina Moretti had never once hugged him after he grew up.
Isabella blinked rapidly, unsure what surprised her more Leonardoâs sudden return... or the messy strands of his dark hair that made him look tired, rugged, and slightly undone. His tie was loosened, his shirt slightly wrinkled, and those dark circles under his eyes made him look dangerously exhausted. Yet somehow, it only made him more intimidating.
And... handsome.
"Y-youâre back?" Isabella stammered, taking a step back, unsure if she was supposed to smile or hide.
Leonardoâs eyes didnât leave his mother as he walked forward. "I leave for a few months and this happens?"
Lina raised a brow. "What exactly is happening?"
"You hugging people," he said flatly. "Thatâs new."
Isabella coughed nervously and looked down, fiddling with the ribbon on the gift box.
Lina, unbothered, gave him a knowing smile. "Maybe youâre just not as huggable as your wife."
Leonardo scowled.
Isabella looked between the two. "Umm... should I go?"
"No," both said at the same time, then glanced at each other.
Lina gently placed her hand over Isabellaâs, her fingers cool and firm. "Actually Bella..." she began with a softer tone than usual, but there was a faint edge of hesitation. "Next week... thereâs an annual meeting. Youâll be attending with Leo."
Isabella blinked, tilting her head. "Meeting?" she asked innocently. "Like... a business one?"
She imagined a big table, maybe a projector, people in suits passing around papers and discussing numbers. So she gave a quick, bright nod. "Okay! Iâll come with him."
Leonardo fingers froze midway through loosening his watch, and his cold gaze flicked from his mother to his clueless wife. "You donât even know what it is," he muttered.
Isabella frowned. "Itâs a meeting, how bad can it be?"
This wasnât just any meeting. It was a gathering where only the most powerful names in their hidden world were allowed, and every boss had to attend as a silent show of strength and their power.
That room would be filled with the most dangerous families, men and women who didnât forgive mistakes. He had hoped to leave her out of it but now, with her officially tied to his name, sheâd have to walk beside him. And any wrong move... could turn deadly.
After dinner, Leonardo stood up and told his mother and Isabella with his usual calm voice, "Iâm going to freshen up," and headed upstairs. Isabella just nodded, thinking he would probably lock himself in his room again like always.
But as soon as Leonardo stepped out of the shower, a towel draped around his shoulders, his phone buzzed. It was Casper. He answered the call with a sigh.
"I know youâre back," Casper said without wasting a second. "Donât even think about hiding."
Leonardo ran a hand through his wet hair. "Iâm not in the mood."
"Too bad," Casper replied with a grin in his voice. "The guys are already waiting. You canât keep your wife hidden forever. Bring her to the bar. Tonight."
Leonardo didnât answer for a long second. But when he looked in the mirror, he saw his own reflection frown. If he didnât take her now, those idiots might come uninvited anyway.
"Fine," he muttered.
"Atta boy," Casper laughed. "Weâll keep the booth ready. Letâs see what kind of women youâve married."
Leonardo ended the call and picked up his black shirt, already regretting this decision.
***
There was a gentle knock on the door, and Isabella, still hugging her rabbit plushie, called out sleepily, "Come in..."
She always forgot to lock the door. But since it was usually just the maid who came to deliver her milk, she spoke without thinking.
Leonardo stepped inside, his hair still a little damp, sleeves rolled up, looking sharp and tired at the same time. He looked around her cozy little room...bright, warm, and nothing like his dark space. His eyes landed on her fluffy pink unicorn, the rabbit plushie she was hugging and the tiny pastel blanket covering her legs.
"Youâre coming with me," he said flatly. "Change. Something decent."
Isabella blinked. "Where?"
"Out."
"I donât want to go..." she mumbled like a child. "I want to sleep..."
Leonardoâs eyes narrowed as they slowly moved to the collection of stuffed toys sitting proudly on her bed. He walked forward with a dangerous calm and picked up her strawberry rabbit plushie.
"You have ten minutes, or I burn this," he said, holding it casually like he meant every word.
Isabella gasped, sitting up immediately, her eyes wide with horror. Nooo! Not Berry! she screamed in her mind.
"Youâre mean!" she shouted internally while her lips only pouted in silence.
And just like that, she scrambled out of bed, hugging her blanket like a cape, muttering, "Monster... evil villain... bunny burner..."
Leonardo turned his back with the ghost of a smirk as he heard her shuffling around in a hurry, already picking an outfit like her life depended on it.
He didnât say it aloud but watching her panic over a plush toy mightâve been the highlight of his day.
Isabella opened her wardrobe and stared at the clothes inside. Most were new, gifted by Lina but she wasnât sure what to wear to a mysterious "outing" at night. She didnât feel like dressing fancy. She was sleepy, annoyed, and still offended by the bunny-burning threat.
So, she wore what felt most comfortable: a fluffy cream sweater with a sleepy cat printed on the front, a frilly pink skirt that reached just above her knees, and white socks with little bows near the ankles. On her feet were bunny-shaped slippers because... why not? They were soft and warm.
When she walked out of the room, Leonardo stared at her like she had lost her mind.
"That?" he asked, voice low with disbelief.
"What?" she blinked innocently, hugging her tiny purse like a teddy bear. "Iâm comfortable."
Leonardo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Youâre going to a bar. Not a pajama party."
"Then donât take me!" she huffed, walking ahead of him with her slippers making soft plop plop sounds on the marble floor.
He didnât argue. Just led her to the car with that usual cold expression.
It was already 10:49 PM. The sky outside was dark, stars covered by thick clouds. Leonardoâs sleek black car was waiting, shining under the gardenâs soft lights.
He opened the door for her and waited silently.
"Hmph," Isabella muttered as she climbed in.
He got in beside her, and the car pulled out of the villa gates.
Inside the car, silence stretched between them for a full minute. Then Isabella crossed her arms and whispered to herself just loud enough for him to hear, "Cold-hearted jerk..."
Leonardo raised a brow coldy. "What did you say?"