CHAPTER 238: CHAPTER 238 ADMIRING HER INNOCENCE

Five days slipped by almost quietly. Bella’s days were full, her little hands flying over the keyboard as she worked. The project William had given her was huge, exciting, and complicated, but that only made her more determined. She would sit for hours at a time in front of her laptop, sometimes forgetting the world outside the screen. Occasionally she would pause to stretch, rub her stiff neck, or sip from a glass of juice Aunty Clara brought her. But mostly, she worked with the kind of focus that made time vanish.

She had even called William sir during those days, their conversations long and technical. His warm, grandfatherly voice made her less nervous, and he always praised her insight. That encouragement pushed her further.

Tomorrow, however, was going to be different. Tomorrow was the Wilson family’s grand birthday celebration, and the thought of it kept tugging her thoughts away from her codes. Bella had never been to such a glamorous gathering, and while the idea of the people, the music, and the luxury intimidated her a little, one thing made her eyes sparkle: the buffet. She could already imagine the endless tables filled with desserts. She loved sweets with a childlike devotion—cakes, pastries, candies, and chocolates. Just the thought of tomorrow’s feast made her heart flutter with giddy excitement.

Leo, on the other hand, had been busier than ever. He left before breakfast most days and returned late at night. Bella didn’t complain—she knew his work was heavy, dangerous, and endless. But what warmed her the most was that even in his exhaustion, he never ignored her presence. He would pause to ask if she had eaten, or simply brush a hand over her hair as he passed by. Sometimes his gaze lingered on her longer than she could understand, but he never said anything.

***

Next day, Bella moved through her morning as usual, humming softly while brushing her hair and straightening her dress before heading downstairs. The room next to Leo’s had finally been finished, but the door was locked, and no servant dared speak about it. Bella’s curiosity gnawed at her, but she didn’t ask—she had learned by now that Leo revealed things only when he wanted.

Instead, she skipped toward the kitchen and found a small packet of peanuts. "Perfect," she whispered happily, hugging the packet to her chest. On her way out she greeted each of the bodyguards standing tall and stiff around the garden paths. "Good morning, mister bodyguard!" she chirped, and though their stony faces never changed, one or two of them lowered their heads in acknowledgment, secretly amused by the little madam’s sunshine.

In the garden, Bella made her way to her favorite bench under the shade of a tall tree. The morning was bright, the grass glistening with dew, and birds darted between branches. But what she was waiting for were the tiny guests she had discovered days ago.

Near the roots of the big tree, by a thick bush, little chipmunks lived, always scurrying about with twitching noses and fluffy tails. Today, Bella sat quietly, opening her peanut packet carefully. She scattered a few pieces near her shoes and whispered, "Hey... come here, I’ll give you food~"

One chipmunk peeked out, its black eyes sparkling, then tilted its tiny head at her as though understanding her call. Bella gasped softly, holding her breath in excitement. She extended her palm, lined with peanuts. The chipmunk sniffed the air, twitched its whiskers, and with a cautious little leap, hopped into her hand.

"Ohhh you’re so cute!!" Bella whispered, afraid to scare it away. She giggled softly as its tiny paws tickled against her skin, nibbling happily at the nut. "Here, I’ll give you more—share with your friends, okay?"

Soon, another chipmunk appeared, then another, until Bella had two clinging to her dress hem and one perched boldly in her palm. She looked down at them with sparkling eyes, her laughter soft and full of wonder. Her heart felt so light, so full like this was her secret morning happiness.

What Bella didn’t notice was a tall figure standing by the balcony above, hands tucked into his pockets. Leo’s sharp gray eyes had softened entirely as he watched her play with the chipmunks, her brown hair falling gently over her shoulders, her lips curved into a smile brighter than sunlight.

He thought, not for the first time, How can someone be this pure... this innocent... in my world of blood and shadows?

Bella burst into laughter, her shoulders shaking as one tiny chipmunk greedily stuffed its mouth with peanuts until its cheeks bulged comically like little balloons. "Ohhh my goodness, look at you!" she squealed softly, trying to hold back her giggles.

The tiny creature gave her one wide-eyed look, as if embarrassed by being caught, then darted off across the garden with its mouth still stuffed, its tail flicking behind it. Bella laughed even harder, pressing her palm to her stomach. "You silly thing! Don’t choke!" she called after it, wiping a tear of laughter from the corner of her eye.

Her smile lingered even after the chipmunk disappeared into the bushes. The kind of smile that made her whole face glow—lips parted in joy, her eyes curved like crescents, her cheeks flushed pink. For that moment, she looked completely carefree, like a child playing in her own little fairytale.

Up on the balcony, Leo leaned slightly against the railing, his jaw tight but his eyes unable to leave her.

He found himself rooted there, watching her laugh at chipmunks. The sound of her laughter floated up to him, soft and unguarded, and it twisted something deep in his chest.

She didn’t even know how dangerous the world really was, he thought grimly. And yet... seeing her like this—laughing at chipmunks stuffing peanuts—it made him want to protect that innocence at all costs.

Bella, still grinning, reached into the peanut packet again. "Come on, you guys, don’t be shy," she coaxed, scattering more pieces onto the grass. Her honey-brown eyes sparkled with excitement, not realizing how brightly they glowed under the morning sun or how intently they were being watched.