CHAPTER 169: CHAPTER 169 A REVENGE MISSION

A few sales assistants nearby paused in their steps when they noticed Bella. Her presence was different from the usual rich clients—they could feel it.

"That’s her?" one whispered behind a display of blush-toned gowns.

"She’s adorable," another whispered back with a smile. "I thought the wife of Mr. Moretti would be..."

"More intimidating?" the first one guessed.

"Exactly. But she looks so cute..."

As Bella passed by, unaware of their hushed conversation, one of them quickly straightened a nearby mannequin’s scarf and gave her a little nod, charmed by the simple innocence in her step.

"This way," Lina said, leading her toward the private dressing area. "We’ll start with a few selections I picked ahead of time."

Bella nodded, still a little overwhelmed by the quiet glamour of it all. She tried to keep her shoulders straight and walk like a normal grown-up, but her eyes sparkled like a child in a candy store.

**

Bella stared at the rows of dresses like they were math equations she didn’t understand. All were so beautiful—soft pastels, elegant whites, deep jewel tones but none of them screamed you’re the one. Still, with Lina’s help, she finally settled on a delicate light blue dress with a soft shimmer to it. It looked dreamy on the hanger. Maybe it would feel the same on her too.

She carried it carefully into the changing room. After putting it on, she stood in front of the mirror and turned slowly. It wasn’t too tight or too short, but the neckline was... lower than she usually wore. A little open at the back. A little more shoulder than she was used to.

Still, it looked elegant. Grown-up. Lovely.

She opened the door and stepped out cautiously—only to freeze in place.

Leonorado was sitting on the boutique’s velvet couch, dressed in black as usual, legs crossed, scrolling through his phone. He didn’t even look up.

What is he doing here?!

Before she could retreat, a cheerful salesperson whispered beside her, "Ma’am, your husband came to assist with the dress selection. Mrs. Moretti went to browse a few styles for herself."

Bella blinked. Help me pick? He hasn’t spoken to me properly in days and now he wants to choose my clothes?

Then he finally looked up and his expression changed subtly. His eyes scanned her slowly. But instead of saying anything nice, his brows creased.

"That one’s not good," he said shortly. "Try something else."

Bella blinked. She stared at him, baffled, then frowned—deeply.

Excuse me???

Her fists clenched. He had ignored her for two days straight like she was a ghost in the house. Now suddenly he wanted to play fashion critic? Who did he think he was?

Yeah, sure, he was her husband but he had never treated her like a wife. Not even once.

Still, she said nothing. Her lips pressed into a tight line as she gave a sharp nod and turned around.

"Hmph!" she huffed under her breath, yanking another dress off the hanger. "Doesn’t look good? I’ll show you something that really doesn’t look good!"

And with steam practically rising off her head, she marched back into the changing room.

What she didn’t know was: the moment she turned her back, Leonorado clenched his jaw.

That dress wasn’t bad.

It was good—too good, in fact. Too revealing. Too flattering. Too much skin. And he didn’t want anyone else in this boutique, or on the street, or at the wedding seeing her like that. The way the neckline dipped, the way the fabric hugged her waist... it made his chest tighten.

So he said what he had to say.

Not good.

Inside the changing room, she looked at the dress—a beige gown with a soft sheen and an even bolder cut. The neckline was deeper. The slit was higher. And the sleeves? Barely there at all.

"Well then," she muttered under her breath. "If that one wasn’t good, let’s see what he says to this."

Five minutes later, the curtain opened.

Leonorado looked up.

And froze.

Bella stood there awkwardly, her cheeks pink, hands fidgeting with the sides of the dress. She didn’t look confident—she looked like she was trying to be.

"Well?" she said, trying to sound annoyed. "What about this one? Is this also not good?"

Leonorado stood up.

And said nothing.

He took a few steps toward her, his eyes dragging over the shape of the dress, the way it clung to her body.

Bella crossed her arms. "Too plain? Too short? Too ugly?"

Leonorado’s voice was low when he finally spoke.

"It’s... worse than the last one," he said.

Bella’s eyes widened. "Worse?!" she gasped.

He leaned a little closer. "It’s too revealing," he murmured. "Do you want every man at that wedding to stare at you?"

Her breath caught.

Her cheeks flushed darker. "I... I just picked what looked good," she whispered, confused.

Leonorado stared at her, jaw tight, eyes stormy. "It does look good. That’s the problem."

Bella blinked up at him, too stunned to speak.

Leonorado exhaled through his nose, turned away, and muttered, "Pick a longer one."

Bella stood there, clutching the edge of the dress, her entire face glowing red.

However, Bella didn’t want to listen to him.

Not after all the cold looks... and the way he had been ignoring her completely.

And definitely not after he told her what to wear like she was some doll he could dress up and tuck away in a box.

Her lips pressed into a pout as she turned away from him and back toward the rack of dresses. Her brown eyes scanned the fabrics like she was on a mission. A revenge mission.

He wants longer?

Well, I want shorter.

She snatched a dress off the rack—a fiery red one this time with a scandalous slit up one thigh and barely-there sleeves that draped off her shoulders. The neckline dipped lower than any she’d ever worn before, and the silky material clung like a second skin.

"Hump!" she huffed under her breath. "Let’s see what Mr. Ice Cube says to this."

Meanwhile, Leonorado had taken a seat again, pretending to scroll through his phone but his ears were tuned to every rustle of fabric behind that curtain.

When the changing room curtain opened again, he didn’t look up right away.

But he felt her.

A wave of heat prickled across his skin.

And when he finally raised his eyes...

He choked.

Almost dropped his phone.

Bella stood before him, one leg peeking out from the slit, her arms slightly hugging herself as if she didn’t know whether she looked beautiful or scandalous and the rich red color made her skin glow like porcelain dipped in rosewater.

She raised her chin in challenge. "This long enough for you, dear husband?"

His jaw tightened.