CHAPTER 221: CHAPTER 221 YOU’LL HAVE TO EARN HIM BACK

Leo smirked, the corner of his lips tugging upward as he dangled the plushie just out of her reach. "Then think of it as... rent. Nothing in my room is free."

Her cheeks puffed out even more as she scrambled forward, clutching Snowball with one arm while reaching desperately for Moonbeam with the other. "G-give him back, you mean man!"

But Leo only leaned further away, enjoying the sight of her stretched across the bed, glaring at him with red cheeks and narrowed eyes. "You want him?" he murmured, his voice dropping lower, carrying that subtle weight that always made her heart skip. "Then you’ll have to earn him back."

Bella froze, blinking rapidly. "E-earn him...?"

His smirk deepened, his gray eyes locking with hers. "Exactly." He leaned closer, holding Moonbeam against his chest. "Say it."

"Say what?" she asked cautiously, hugging Snowball even tighter.

"’Leonardo is the best.’" His lips curved into a wicked grin. "And maybe I’ll return him."

Bella gasped, scandalized. "N-no way!" she shouted, burying her face in Snowball. "I’ll never say that!"

Leo chuckled, the sound low and warm, vibrating through the quiet room. He sat down on the edge of the bed, Moonbeam still in his hand, and leaned closer so that their knees almost touched. "Then I suppose Moonbeam is mine now."

Bella’s eyes widened, her cheeks burning as she glared up at him. "Y-you thief!"

He smirked again, lowering his voice to a near whisper. "Better than being ignored by my wife."

Her breath caught, and she blinked at him, suddenly speechless.

Leo had been thinking about how Bella had ignored him.

"Well~~ someone who ignored me all the time saying that feels weird," Bella sang cheekily, sticking out her tongue at him.

Leo blinked, stunned for a moment by her boldness, and in that split second of distraction, Bella darted forward, snatched Moonbeam right out of his hand, and hugged both plushies to her chest.

"Got you!" she squealed in triumph, her cheeks glowing with mischief. She quickly set Snowball, Moonbeam, and her berry together in a row, then patted her hands in a dramatic circle around them as though casting a protective barrier.

"Whoever touches my plushies is gay!" she declared with wide eyes, her voice firm like she was setting down a powerful law of the universe.

Leo froze mid-step, his jaw tightening. "...What?"

Bella nodded proudly, folding her arms like she had just won the war.

"Who taught you that?" he asked, his deep voice sharp, though there was disbelief glinting in his eyes.

"Myself," Bella said smugly, lifting her chin. She looked ridiculously pleased with her own cleverness.

Leo’s brows furrowed, his lips pressing into a hard line. "Do you even know what that means?" he asked, gritting his teeth, his gray eyes narrowing at her.

Bella blinked innocently, tilting her head. Of course she knew—she had watched enough movies and dramas to understand, even if she wasn’t going to admit it fully. "I know," she said simply, her honey-brown eyes wide with innocence.

Leo pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled slowly. His ears were faintly red despite his hard expression. "You..." He let his hand drop, his eyes darkening as he leaned a little closer to her. "You’re driving me insane, Isabella."

Bella grinned, puffing her cheeks to hide her blush, then hugged all three plushies tighter like a knight protecting treasure. "Good. Maybe then you’ll leave my babies alone."

Leo smirked, the kind that made her stomach twist. "No, little bella. It means I’ll take something else instead."

Bella’s breath caught as he leaned closer, his hand reaching—not for the plushies but for a strand of her hair, twirling it slowly around his finger as his gaze locked with hers.

Her cheeks flamed as she stammered, "Y-you can’t! That’s cheating!"

He chuckled low in his throat, leaning even closer. "Then make better rules."

"Whoever touches my hair is—" Bella began quickly, her cheeks red as she tried to make another silly law to shield herself.

But before the words left her lips, Leo’s phone buzzed sharply in his pocket. The sound cut through the moment like a blade. He exhaled heavily, his jaw tightening as he pulled back his hand.

"...I have to take this call," he muttered, his voice low, almost reluctant. His stormy eyes lingered on her for a second longer, as though he didn’t want to break the moment, then he turned away.

Bella hugged her plushies tightly, watching as he slid the glass door open and stepped out onto the balcony. He spoke into the phone in his usual deep, commanding tone, his tall frame outlined by the daylight outside.

She sighed in relief, pressing her cheek into Snowball’s fuzzy head. Her heart was still racing. "Goodness..." she whispered to herself, puffing her cheeks. "That man really wants to give me a heart attack."

From the corner of her eye, she glanced at him again. Even from behind the glass, Leo looked impossibly composed and... hot. His broad shoulders, the way his hand rested in his pocket while the other held the phone..it made her chest feel tight all over again.

"Don’t stare, Bella," she muttered, shaking her head and burying her face into Moonbeam this time. "Focus on your babies. Not on... him."

But no matter how she tried, her gaze kept sneaking back toward the balcony, where Leo’s deep voice drifted faintly through the glass.

**

Meanwhile, the name flashing across his phone made his brows twitch. Casper. With a sigh, Leo answered, already bracing himself.

"Bro, can you come to the bar tonight??" Casper’s voice came loud and desperate through the speaker.

Leo’s jaw tightened. He leaned against the balcony rail, his gaze drifting toward the skyline. "No. I’m busy," he replied flatly, his deep voice carrying no room for argument.

There was a pause, then Casper’s tone shifted, softer, almost pleading. "No, bro, come... me and Zion have something important to tell you."

His eyes narrowed, and after a beat of silence, he finally exhaled. "...Alright." His voice was clipped, but the decision was made.