CHAPTER 188: CHAPTER 188 WHAT... DOES BELLA LIKE?

He didn’t know what to do with the warmth bubbling in his chest. She was sitting so close, hugging her knees like a little bunny, completely unaware that her words had just messed with his entire heart. His jaw tensed, and his eyes lingered on her face longer than he should’ve — the way her lashes fluttered when she smiled at her screen, the soft pout on her lips, the faint blush resting on her cheeks.

How could someone like her exist in his cold, complicated world?

She didn’t even know it was him she was talking to. But her words — those gentle, innocent words had wrapped around his guarded heart and squeezed without warning.

He exhaled slowly.

SweetTooth: Thank you, my wife is very cute... but when she ignores me, she is not. Angry.

Leo typed the message with a quiet smirk tugging at his lips, then paused to reread it—his finger hovering for a second before he hit send. The corner of his mouth lifted just slightly, and without even realizing it, he bit down softly on his bottom lip.

Bella blinked.

Her eyes scanned the message twice, then once more, slower this time.

She wasn’t sure what got her more—the fact that he called his wife cute... or the subtle pout hidden behind that last word: angry. Like he was sulking in his own cool way.

She pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders, her face warming as she stared at the screen, pretending it didn’t make her heart flutter like a paper bird caught in a breeze.

However, a soft chuckle escaped her lips as she wondered what kind of person he truly was.

And when he heard her laugh, a slow, another deep smile appeared on his face.

BellaZone: No problem! Make her happy! She will not ignore you.

She smiled proudly after sending it, happy to give some "wise advice" like a marriage expert. On the other side, Leo smirked and immediately typed:

SweetTooth

: Really??

BellaZone: Yes! Girls are easy to coax!

Leo bit the inside of his cheek to hide his grin, glancing at her puffed-up face. She looked too serious while typing, like she was writing a breakup letter for someone else.

SweetTooth: You mean men are not easy to coax??

BellaZone: Yes! They’re weird creatures!!

That made him chuckle under his breath.

SweetTooth: You also mean... me?

Bella blinked at the message, then quickly typed:

BellaZone: Oh no! Not all guys. I mean... for some guys. Especially my husband. He ignores me all the time.

The moment she sent it, she froze, eyes wide. Then she hugged her iPad and hid her face behind it like she said something shameful.

His brow arched, the teasing smile slowly fading as a different look took over. His fingers paused above the keyboard.

Something about that line hit deeper than it should have.

He ignores me all the time.

His eyes darkened slightly, thoughtful, and a long exhale escaped through his nose. He hadn’t realized she felt that way. Or maybe... he had, and just didn’t want to face it.

Then he began typing—more carefully this time.

SweetTooth: Maybe he wasn’t ignoring you at all...

There was a pause. And then—

BellaZone: I’m certain! If I don’t talk to him, he doesn’t come to talk with me!

He paused. His throat tightened a little. He looked at her again—she was chewing her lip, playing with her fingers nervously, not even realizing her words were poking directly at him.

His fingers hovered for a second before he typed slowly..

SweetTooth: Maybe... he’s not good at talking. Maybe he wants to but just doesn’t know how.

There was a longer pause this time.

Then—

BellaZone: Really?? But I don’t want to talk to him first...

He smiled, just a little.

SweetTooth: Maybe you should try. Just once.

Another pause.

BellaZone: Maybe... if he tries first!

She hit send with a pout and then typed again.

BellaZone: Byy.

Leonardo stared at that word. Just one word. But it made something inside him sink a little. He wasn’t ready to stop talking to her. Not through this secret window where she wasn’t scared or confused. Here, she was honest. Funny. Herself.

Still, he took a soft breath and replied anyway, even though part of him wanted to say something more.

SweetTooth: Byy...

***

5:43 PM – Leonorado’s Office.

Jay burst in like he was on fire, dragging his bag with one shoe half-tied and a phone still clutched in his hand. "BRO!! What is this emergency?!" he cried dramatically, tossing his bag onto the couch. "I was literally packing up to go home! I thought someone died!!"

Leonorado didn’t respond right away. He was seated at his massive black desk, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, brows furrowed like he was calculating the future of the universe. His jaw was clenched, and he looked oddly...conflicted.

Jay blinked. "Bro?"

Leonorado looked up, took a deep breath... opened his mouth... then closed it again.

Jay frowned, suspicious. "Don’t tell me you called me here just to sit and breathe."

Leonorado closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again and finally spoke, voice low and serious like he was confessing a crime. "What... does Bella like?"

Jay froze. "Wait. Did I just—did you just—" he slapped his ear. "—Did I go deaf for a second? Say that again?"

Leonorado gritted his teeth, a muscle twitching on his jaw. "What. Does. Bella. Like?"

Jay’s entire face lit up like he’d just won the lottery. "OHHHHHHHH, this is better than the emergency I imagined!! You’re trying to impress your wife!!" he shouted, practically bouncing in place. "My brother is in loooove!!"

"Jay," Leo warned, voice deeper now.

Jay twirled like a ballerina. "What does Bella like?" he mimicked in a deep voice, hands on his hips. "Why don’t you ask her yourself?"

Leonorado glared, cheeks suspiciously pink. "She’s ignoring me."

"Maybe because you act like a wall," Jay said with a wink, then tapped his chin thoughtfully. "But okay, since I’m your favorite brother, I’ll help you!" he said proudly. "Bella likes... sweets. All kinds of them. Cakes, chocolate mousse, cupcakes—especially strawberry ones. She also loves cozy things. Warm drinks, soft music, candles... you know, sweet little vibes."