CHAPTER 215: CHAPTER 215 ISAAC

The old man chuckled, tapping the desk with his thin fingers. "Good. Very good. But there is one thing you must understand." His eyes narrowed with gravity. "This project isn’t only about defending a building. Inside these walls, I store technology and prototypes worth billions. Designs the world isn’t ready for. If my grandson gains control, he won’t just take my company. He will sell what I built to people who will turn it into weapons. That cannot happen."

Bella’s chest tightened, her nerves sparking with both fear and exhilaration. She nodded firmly. "Then I’ll make sure it doesn’t. I’ll design the shield so that even if the system is stolen, no one can use it without your master key. Not your grandson. Not his contractor. Not anyone."

William looked at her for a long moment, then smiled slowly. "I believe you. You remind me of myself when I was young. Hungry. Brilliant. Stubborn."

Bella blinked, caught off guard by the compliment, and then chuckled softly.

Knock, knock.

"Sir, I brought snacks," Simon’s voice came from outside.

"Come in," William answered.

Simon entered the room carrying a tray with two neat plates of snacks and a pair of tall juice glasses. He placed them carefully on the desk, arranging everything with quiet precision. Bella’s lips curved into a polite smile as she watched him.

"Thank you, Simon," she said softly.

Simon’s brows lifted slightly at her gentle tone—he had expected the infamous Bellatrix_019 to be cold, maybe even arrogant. Instead, this "Isaac" seemed... courteous. Almost kind. He nodded quickly before excusing himself and leaving the room.

When the door clicked shut, William gestured toward the tray. "Please, eat. You’ll work better with something in your stomach."

Bella reached for the glass of juice, her fingers brushing the cool surface. She sipped politely, then placed it back down. William studied her across the desk, his sharp old eyes carrying curiosity and warmth.

"So, Isaac... when did you start hacking?"

Isaac.

When he called her by that name, Bella felt a strange jolt inside. It was still unfamiliar, like slipping into a jacket that didn’t quite fit yet. She had to remind herself that Isaac Snow was the role she had chosen, and she needed to wear it convincingly.

Her thoughts drifted back to her childhood as she answered. She remembered the quiet corners of the old library near her home, shelves stacked with books that barely interested her until she stumbled on one that explained the basics of coding. Something about those strange lines of logic had caught her attention, and from that day, she never looked back.

"I think... since I was ten," Bella said with a small smile. "And My dad was a programmer."

William’s tired eyes lit up with interest. "Oh? Looks like it runs in the blood then," he chuckled warmly. "I should’ve met your father. I was also a programmer once, in my days."

His voice softened with nostalgia, and his expression seemed to stretch far back into the past. "Back then, programming was only just beginning to surface. Most people didn’t even understand what a computer could do, let alone the power it would hold. I still remember... spending endless nights writing clumsy code, debugging line after line until my head hurt. But it was worth it. That’s how I built this company, brick by brick, wire by wire."

Bella watched him with quiet respect, her smile lingering but her heart tightening at the memory of her own father. "My dad passed away," she said softly, her expression dimming with sadness.

William paused, his gaze tender. "I’m sorry."

Bella shook her head gently and offered him a faint, brave smile. "It’s alright. It’s been many years."

After a long stretch of discussion, William finally leaned back in his chair, his hands folded together. He looked at her as though weighing every possible reason to keep her there a little longer, but in the end, he exhaled slowly and nodded. "Alright... I’ll trust you with this." His voice carried both reluctance and faith, as if he was placing something precious into her hands.

When Bella stood up to leave, William surprised her by rising from his chair and stepping out of the office himself. "I’ll see you off," he said.

She blinked, touched by the gesture. The old man didn’t send her away with just words—he personally came with her down to the entrance. At the doorway of the gleaming glass building, he stopped, looking smaller against the towering structure he had built with his own blood and sweat.

Bella turned to him with a bright smile. "Thank you, William sir."

His lined face softened. "Take care of yourself, Isaac."

She gave him one last nod, then finally walked out into the open air.

As she stepped away, her thoughts lingered on him. William sir is really great... she told herself, warmth filling her chest. Such a good man, and somehow... a little pitiful too.

Bella shook the thought away, crouching near the sidewalk. She pressed a hidden button on her shoes and grinned when the wheels clicked into place. Holding her bag tightly under one arm, she pushed off the ground and glided forward.

The wind rushed past her cheeks as she skated down the wide road, her floppy dark hair bouncing, her jacket fluttering behind her like a flag of freedom. She laughed out loud, unable to help herself.

"Woah...!! This feels so good!" she whispered breathlessly, exhilaration bubbling up in her chest.

She felt cool as she glided across the road, the evening breeze brushing against her cheeks, carrying the scent of street food and perfume drifting from passing shops. Her jacket fluttered with every push of her skates, and for the first time in years, her heart felt light.

"Hey?"

Bella turned her head sharply. A girl had appeared beside her, skating with effortless grace. She had warm chocolaty skin that glowed under the sun, her spiral curls bouncing wildly as she moved. A mischievous smile tugged at her lips, and she winked at Bella.

"You up for a race?" the girl asked, her tone daring, playful, and full of challenge.