CHAPTER 232: CHAPTER 232 SPY

"These bullets," he said smoothly, his voice low and deliberate, "may look small, but they are designed with hollow points. Inside, there’s compressed toxin—once it enters the body, it tears more than just flesh. It spreads... burns..." He paused, his gray eyes catching hers, "kills before anyone can scream for help."

Bella’s throat went dry. She pressed her lips together, her chest rising and falling quickly. She had seen many things in her life, had touched blood with her own hands when saving people... but hearing him explain it so calmly, like he was describing a fine wine, made her skin prickle.

"I-I’m... going downstairs," she stammered, standing abruptly. "I just—I want water."

Without waiting for his reply, she turned and practically ran from the room, her soft slippers making hurried sounds against the wooden floor. Her heart hammered inside her chest, and she didn’t even dare look back.

Leo stood silently, watching her retreating figure. The smirk was gone. His expression had shifted back into its cold, controlled state, his thoughts twisting like smoke. He leaned back against the table, his fingers brushing the miniature ship as his eyes turned thoughtful, even grim.

How would she look at him when she learned the truth? Not about models. Not about hidden bullets. But about her uncle. About how he had captured that man, broken him piece by piece until he begged for death, until the screams had grown hoarse and his body gave out.

Would she run then too? Would her wide, innocent doe eyes ever forgive him?

He clenched his jaw, the muscles flexing. For the first time, the thought of Bella looking at him not with fear, but with hate, made something sharp twist in his chest.

Leo’s expression slowly shifted as the thought tightened inside his chest. Why was he even worrying? That pig—her so-called uncle—wasn’t worth an ounce of regret. The man had tormented her, locked her in his grip like a prisoner. If Bella knew the extent of what he had done, maybe she would look at him differently. Not with fear, but with relief. Maybe even gratitude.

The corners of his mouth eased as he exhaled, shoulders loosening. Yes. She might be startled by his ways, but she would never hate him for erasing a monster who had hurt her. Thinking this, his expression softened into something almost calm, his eyes lowering to the tiny ship in his hand.

Downstairs, Bella was clutching a glass of water at the edge of the kitchen counter, her breath coming out in shaky little waves. "Calm down, Bella... calm down," she muttered under her breath, pressing the glass to her lips and drinking slowly.

Her chest still fluttered nervously, remembering his voice upstairs, so smooth and steady while describing weapons that could kill in seconds.

***

After dinner Bella sat stiffly on the bed, her fingers nervously twisting the corner of her blanket. She wanted so badly to open her laptop and continue working, but the thought of Leo suddenly walking in and catching her with the dark interface glowing on the screen made her heart pound. She waited. Minutes turned into hours, but he never came.

"Maybe... he’s busy," she whispered to herself, though the words did little to comfort her. She bit her lip, finally giving in. Pulling the laptop onto the couch, she slipped into her project, losing herself completely. Her fingers flew across the keys, her eyes glued to the codes. Time passed unnoticed until a dull ache settled in her neck from staring down too long.

"Huh?" She blinked, rubbed her sore muscles, then reached for her phone. Her eyes widened in shock—12:20 a.m. "Oh no..." she muttered, snapping the laptop shut in panic. She hadn’t realized she’d been working for so long.

Quickly, she rushed into the bathroom, showered, and changed into her soft nightwear. Her hair brushed neatly over her shoulders, her cheeks still pink from the warm water. She climbed into bed, lying flat on her back, staring at the ceiling. The silence of the room pressed against her ears.

She turned onto her side, hugging Snowball close. A heaviness pulled at her chest—worry. Where is he? He never comes this late... Did something happen? The thought made her curl tighter under the blanket.

The house was too quiet. Each creak in the floorboards outside made her ears perk up, but no door opened, no footsteps entered. She closed her eyes, trying to sleep, but her heart refused to calm. Instead, she whispered softly into the pillow, as though Snowball could listen, "Come back soon, Leo..."

Finally, exhaustion weighed down her lashes. The faint glow of the bedside lamp fell across her delicate face as she drifted into restless sleep, still clutching the plushie.

***

The night air was sharp, the moonlight casting silver streaks across the empty stretch of road near Leo’s estate. His men were already spread out, shadows moving with precision, rifles raised, eyes scanning every corner. The heavy scent of gun oil and earth filled the air.

When Leo arrived, the silence parted for him. His gray eyes glinted under the dim streetlight as he saw two of his guards dragging a man forward, his hands tied behind his back. The man’s face was pale, dirt smeared across his cheek, his lips trembling as if he’d been running for hours.

Leo stopped a few steps away, his hands slipping calmly into the pockets of his black coat. His presence was colder than the night. "How dare you intrude on my land?" His voice was low, sharp, every syllable slicing through the man’s nerves.

The intruder swallowed hard, his legs shaking. "S-Sir, I didn’t mean to intrude! Please—I came because I need to tell you something... something important." His voice cracked with desperation.

Leo’s eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. "Important?" he repeated, voice laced with mocking disbelief. "Do you think your life is valuable enough to bargain with me?"

The man dropped to his knees, forehead nearly touching the dirt. "I swear, I’m telling the truth. It’s about a spy. A spy... inside your house."

Hearing ’Spy’ word, Leo’s eyes sharpened dangerously. His voice dropped even lower. "spy?"

The man nodded frantically, sweat dripping down his temples. "Y-Yes... Pablo destroyed my family. Burned everything. I was forced to run. But before I left, I overheard something. One of his men mentioned... a spy planted close to you. Very close. And... she—"