CHAPTER 24: CHAPTER 24 STINGY MAN

Leonardo didn’t return the plushie.

Instead, he raised it higher just out of her reach.

The poor strawberry bunny now dangled helplessly in his grasp, swaying slightly above Isabella’s head like a stolen treasure.

Isabella froze.

Her eyes slowly widened in betrayal. "...You didn’t," she whispered.

Leonardo’s expression remained cold and unreadable. But deep down... he was curious. Amused even.

And then she jumped.

A tiny hop, arms stretched as far as they could go. "Give. It. Back!" she huffed, trying again.

But her short height was no match for Leonardo’s six-foot-plus frame.

"That’s mine!" she shouted, puffing her cheeks in frustration.

He looked down at her, the plushie still in hand, watching her struggle with mild interest.

Her cheeks were flushed a soft pink from all the hopping. Her brows were scrunched, her lips pouted in pure frustration, and her big brown eyes blazed with a kind of righteous fury.

He didn’t know why...

But something about her flustered little face, that burning determination over something so ridiculous, made a strange warmth spark in his chest.

Was he... enjoying this?

He shouldn’t be.

It was childish. Pointless.

Yet, he didn’t lower his hand.

Instead, his lips twitched ever so slightly.

"You seem very attached," he said calmly, tilting his head. "It’s just a toy."

"It’s not just a toy!" she snapped, stomping one foot. "It’s my bunny, and it makes me happy!"

Leonardo raised a brow. "That’s a high price for happiness."

Isabella glared at him.

Leonardo, for the first time in a while, felt something close to... amusement.

She was small. Loud. Emotional.

And completely unafraid to yell at him over a stuffed animal.

Interesting, he thought.

Very interesting.

Isabella stood there, arms crossed, cheeks flushed, lips trembling in frustration as she looked up at the devil holding her bunny hostage. She was already tired from jumping, and her heart ached seeing her poor plushie dangling so helplessly in Leonardo’s hand.

Then she whispered, her voice softer, more vulnerable now—

"Please give me..."

Leonardo stared at her, expression unreadable at first.

But inside He didn’t know why, but there was something deeply amusing about annoying her. Maybe it was the way her expressions changed so quickly, or the stubborn spark in her big eyes every time she glared at him like a tiny warrior.

He looked down at her again.

Cute, he thought with quiet amusement. Annoying, but... kind of cute.

He leaned just a little closer, his voice calm and too smooth.

"You want it back?"

Isabella nodded firmly. "Yes!"

He tilted his head slightly, the corner of his mouth twitching.

"Then... one small punishment."

Her eyes narrowed immediately. "Punishment?"

He gave her a faint smirk, lifting the bunny a little higher just to make her huff again.

"Yes. Say this: ’From now on, I won’t use your black card without permission, and I’ll report all future big purchases like a good girl.’"

Her mouth dropped open.

"You’re evil," she hissed.

Leonardo’s smirk deepened. "I’m patient. Which is rare."

She glared at him, puffing her cheeks. "That’s so petty!"

He shrugged, completely unaffected. "Then no bunny."

Isabella groaned, clutching her hair for a second, then muttered quickly through clenched teeth,

"From now on, I won’t use your black card without permission, and I’ll report all future big purchases like a... good girl."

Leonardo raised an eyebrow. "Louder."

"I said it!" she snapped.

Finally, with obvious amusement in his eyes, he handed her the bunny.

She snatched it like a dragon reclaiming its treasure and hugged it tightly to her chest.

He turned away then, the smallest smirk playing on his lips as he walked to the window.

Teasing her shouldn’t be this fun.

But it was.

Isabella hugged her strawberry bunny like it had just been rescued from a terrible hostage situation. She glared at Leonardo’s back with righteous fury, still red from the humiliation of repeating that childish line.

She puffed her cheeks, eyes narrowed, and yelled out—

"You’re such a stingy man! You gave me the card to shop and now you’re being petty about it? Shame on you!"

Leonardo paused mid-step.

Very slowly, he turned to look at her over his shoulder.

That sharp, warning glare.

Cold.

Silent.

Deadly.

Isabella’s breath hitched, her gaze darted to the unicorn plushie. She grabbed it in a rush, pressing both plushies tightly against her heart.

"EEP—!" she squeaked and immediately spun on her heel, dashing toward the door.

Her slippers slapped against the marble floor as she bolted out of the room, bunny in one arm, unicorn in the other.

"Berry! Moonbeam! Retreat!!" she whispered urgently to her plushies as she raced down the stairs like she was fleeing from a crime scene.

Leonardo stood there, blinking once, the silence of the room settling around him.

He exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"..."

There were no words.

***

Downstairs in the elegant dining area, the long table was already set, warm lights glowing above golden-rimmed plates and polished cutlery. Isabella sat properly on one side, her hands folded, pretending to be calm—when in reality, her stomach was growling like a tiny beast.

She had hidden Berry and Moonbeam behind the living room curtains before dinner. No way was she letting that tall devil take them hostage again.

The scent of food wafted into the air—spiced vegetables, grilled meats, baked pasta, freshly made bread and she nearly melted just from the smell.

She heard footsteps, and the quiet conversation of maids faded immediately.

Leonardo entered.

He walked in like he owned the air itself—tall, sharp, and dressed in a dark shirt that hugged his frame too perfectly. He sat down at the head of the table, elegant and composed, and gave Isabella a brief glance before gesturing lightly to the maid.

The food was served in silence.

Isabella, trying her best to keep her energy low-key, sat up straight and waited until he took the first bite.

And then—

Her eyes sparkled.

There were so many dishes!

She tried a bit of everything. Though she didn’t eat a lot, she made sure not to waste even a spoonful. She was used to having little, and every bite here felt like a luxury she didn’t take for granted.

After sipping her orange juice, she glanced toward him curiously.

"Where’s Mom?" she asked softly.

Leonardo’s hand paused as he wiped the corner of his mouth with a cloth napkin. His expression didn’t change.

"For work," he said simply.

Isabella nodded slowly. "Oh... okay."

Then, as she picked at her salad, she began to notice him.

Like really notice him.

His jet black hair, slightly tousled but perfectly styled. The way his sharp jaw moved when he chewed. The veins on his hand that rested near the glass. And those cold gray eyes...so intense and unreadable.

He looked like a villain prince straight out of a fantasy novel.

He’s... beautiful, she thought, blinking once, then quickly looking away as her cheeks grew warm.

No! No crushing on the ice cube husband, she scolded herself silently, stabbing her fork into a tomato.