CHAPTER 244: CHAPTER 244 FURIOUS

William leaned forward slightly, his eyes twinkling as though he was far more entertained than anyone else in the room. "Isabella, good, good..." he laughed warmly, his voice carrying enough weight to make people nearby turn their heads in curiosity.

"So, Bella," he asked casually, though his gaze was far from casual, "what’s your education?"

Bella straightened her back, forcing her voice steady. "School graduate," she said simply, and then—quick as lightning—her eyes flicked to William, sending a silent signal. Please pretend like everything is normal. Don’t expose me.

The old man caught it. And if anything, his amused smile only widened.

"And what’s your age?" he asked, the question landing heavier than it seemed.

"N-nineteen," Bella answered, her lips curving into a small, nervous smile.

William burst into laughter, his shoulders shaking. "Nineteen! Hah! You’re still so young. You should be going to college, making your mark, not being locked away in this world of adult parties and suits."

Leo’s brows furrowed at that, his sharp gray eyes narrowing slightly as he glanced between the two of them. He didn’t like the way William was poking into Bella’s personal life, though the old man’s words weren’t cruel—if anything, they sounded approving. Still, the tension in his jaw was obvious.

"You’re clever, Isabella," William went on, his gaze never leaving her. "I can see it in your eyes. You definitely need to go to college and build your career. Don’t waste that mind of yours."

Bella lowered her lashes, her heart thudding nervously.

The nearby crowd buzzed with surprise. Everyone had seen William dismiss people left and right tonight—ignoring Stella, ignoring Alexa but now, here he was, laughing, praising, engaging with Leo’s young wife. It was shocking, almost scandalous.

And no one was more furious than Stella.

Her nails dug into the stem of her glass as her lips curved into a polite smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She had been told by her mother that William Wilson was a man of power, wealth, and mafia connections deep enough to drown in.

And now this same man, who ignored her completely, was smiling at Bella.

Her pathetic sister. The girl who had stolen her place as Leo’s bride.

Stella’s mind raced. If not Leo... then I’ll have a backup. She glanced toward William’s grandsons standing nearby, then to the three young men behind him, all sharp in their suits, all single. Her heart steadied. Yes. If Bella had Leo, then Stella would just climb higher through another door.

But still, watching William laugh with Bella while the entire hall whispered... that burned hotter than anything.

And Alexa wasn’t in a good mood. She looked furious, her expression darkening as her eyes swept the hall. She felt even more bitter when she saw her husband standing with a circle of businessmen. They were laughing, raising glasses, nodding at his every word.

He was respected, admired, treated as one of the good men in this world. On the surface, he was steady, dependable, a man people trusted to make deals with.

She knew she didn’t love him, never had. The only reason she stayed by his side was because of his wealth, his status, the comfort it gave her.

Her heart belonged elsewhere—no, not even her heart, her obsession. She liked Leo. Always had.

Because unlike her husband, Leo didn’t look at her beauty and melt. He didn’t flatter her, didn’t chase her. He didn’t see her as something to be owned or displayed. He ignored her completely, and that stung her pride more than anything.

Her painted nails tapped against the glass stem as her gaze, unbidden, drifted to the tall figure not far away.

Leo

.

Even in a room full of powerful men, he stood out. His black suit fit like it had been stitched into his very skin, broad shoulders commanding respect without him saying a word. His sharp profile, the calm yet dangerous aura he carried—it was enough to make anyone’s breath hitch.

And the worst part was he didn’t even see her.

All her life, beauty had been her greatest weapon. Men bowed, stared, stumbled over their words just to gain her attention. But Leo? He had looked at her once, maybe twice, and then dismissed her like she was invisible. Like she was nothing more than background noise.

That stung deeper than any insult.

Her grip on the glass tightened as anger rose in her chest. He didn’t love her. He never had. Instead, he gave all his attention to Bella.

Alexa’s lips curled as she drank down the last of her wine, the taste bitter on her tongue. The more she thought about it, the more it enraged her. Leo had ignored her beauty, her charm, everything that made her special. He had chosen someone else to stand at his side.

××××××

The old man finally let Bella and Leo go when the staff began preparing the cake for cutting.

"Finally," Bella whispered under her breath, her shoulders dropping in relief.

Leo, who heard her clearly, let out a low chuckle. He leaned down just enough so his breath brushed her ear. "What? Already tired bunny?"

Bella’s cheeks warmed. "No! It’s just... everyone was staring at me like I’m some rare animal in a cage."

Leo’s lips curved into a knowing smirk. "That’s because you looked too pretty. You’re distracting the whole room, little bunny."

Her eyes widened and she quickly shook her head, her earrings swaying with the motion. "No, no... they were looking at you."

He chuckled again, low and deep, and his hand brushed lightly against hers.

The hall filled with soft music as the staff carefully wheeled in a massive cake—five tiers tall, each layer decorated in intricate gold piping, fresh cream flowers, and little sugar ornaments that glittered under the chandelier light. It looked less like dessert and more like a masterpiece, the kind of thing only the wealthiest could afford to display.

Everyone clapped politely as the cake was brought to the center. "Happy birthday, Mr. William!" the crowd cheered in unison, voices echoing off the marble walls. Champagne glasses clinked, waiters moved swiftly between tables, and camera flashes lit up like stars.

Bella’s eyes widened in awe. She leaned closer to Leo, whispering, "That’s not a cake... that’s an entire building. How do people even eat that?"