CHAPTER 245: CHAPTER 245 WHAT HAPPENED

Leo glanced at her from the corner of his eye, his expression unreadable, though the slight twitch of his lips betrayed his amusement. "Piece by piece, little bunny," he murmured.

Bella giggled softly, trying not to draw attention, though a few nearby guests noticed her bright laughter and exchanged surprised looks.

The old man William, with his son at his side, held the knife while everyone clapped again. Bella clapped too, genuinely smiling now, though her cheeks heated when she felt Leo’s hand brush against her lower back as if guiding her closer to him in the crowd.

"Make a wish, Mr. William!" someone called. William laughed, closed his eyes, and cut the towering cake to more applause. Waiters quickly began slicing smaller portions, carrying them off to the eager guests.

Bella, still staring at the mountain of sugar and cream, whispered to Leo again, "I think... I could live inside that cake. At least for a week."

That finally made Leo’s lips curve into a rare, genuine smile. He bent slightly so only she could hear: "And I’d find you there, bunny. Don’t tempt me."

Her face turned scarlet. She swatted lightly at his arm, but her heart fluttered wildly.

××××

Bella had truly enjoyed the cake cutting, the atmosphere warm for a brief while, the five-tiered cake drawing everyone’s attention. But once the candles had been blown and the old man thanked his guests, the hall broke into clusters of people chattering, laughing, and exchanging business cards.

Leo was quickly pulled aside by a group of influential men. With a reassuring glance at her, he left for yet another private talk. Bella, meanwhile, felt a pressure in her stomach and excused herself politely, searching for the restroom.

She asked one of the maids serving drinks, who pointed her down a quiet corridor. The moment Bella stepped into the restroom, the noise of the party dulled behind her. She finished quickly, then walked to the sink, washing her hands slowly, letting the cold water calm her nerves.

As she lifted her head, her reflection wasn’t alone anymore.

A second face appeared in the mirror—sharp, painted with red lipstick, eyes curling in disdain. Bella’s breath caught. She recognized her instantly. Sherly. The same woman who had shoved her to the ground during that humiliating event she had attended with Leo for the very first time.

"What a surprise," Sherly drawled, her cold smile curling as she leaned lazily against the counter, eyes glinting with venom through the mirror.

Bella didn’t reply. She simply pressed the paper towel to her hands, her face calm.

Sherly clicked her tongue. "Tsk... look at you. Acting all calm, all graceful. Do you really think that because you’ve got Leo wrapped around your little finger, you’ll be the only one he cares about?" Her laugh was sharp, mocking. "Don’t fool yourself. Alexa will never let that happen."

Bella’s lashes lowered. Without a word, she turned, ignoring her, and walked out of the restroom.

But Sherly wasn’t done.

Her heels clicked like daggers as she followed Bella down the corridor, which was eerily empty compared to the crowded hall. "You!!!" she snapped, her voice shrill. "Can’t you hear me talking to you?"

Bella kept walking, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction.

Blood rushed to Sherly’s head. Rage bubbled up in her chest until she couldn’t hold it anymore. With a snarl, she lifted her foot and kicked.

"Aah—!"

The sharp heel dug mercilessly into Bella’s leg. Caught completely unprepared, Bella stumbled forward, pain shooting like fire up her body, and she crashed to the cold marble floor. Her palms scraped against it, her knees throbbing. Her vision blurred as tears stung her eyes. The pain was so sharp it made her breath hitch, her chest rising and falling in shallow gasps.

Sherly’s laughter rang out, cruel and triumphant. "Hahahaha! Look at you now."

The sound echoed down the empty corridor like nails on glass.

The restroom door opened again, and two of Sherly’s friends stepped out, their heels tapping lightly until they froze. Their eyes widened in horror when they saw Bella on the ground, struggling to push herself up, her face pale and her body trembling.

"Sherly!" one of her friends whispered in horror, eyes darting nervously toward Bella’s crumpled form. "What did you just do?! People will notice if—"

"Oh, shut up," Sherly snapped, her lips curling into a cruel smirk. She crouched slightly, her heels clicking on the polished floor as she leaned closer to Bella, who was struggling to breathe through the pain. "Look at her. So delicate, so weak. This is the girl Leo chose? Pathetic."

Her other friend bit her lip, uneasy. "Sherly, this isn’t smart. If Leo finds out—"

"And what if he does?" Sherly cut her off, tossing her hair back. Her tone dripped arrogance. "Men like him only want beauty until they get bored. She’s just a passing distraction. Soon, she’ll be tossed aside, and everyone will forget her. I’m just giving her a little taste of reality."

Bella’s nails dug into the floor, her body trembling, but she couldn’t muster the strength to stand.

Sherly straightened and scoffed, waving her hand. "Come on, let’s go. If she wants to crawl back to the party like the little pest she is, let her. Maybe the pity in everyone’s eyes will finally teach her she doesn’t belong."

Her friends exchanged uneasy glances, but they followed as Sherly strutted away, her laughter fading down the corridor.

Bella felt so painful that she couldn’t stand up for a few seconds... and then, slowly, her consciousness slipped away.

When she woke up, the sharpness of the pain had dulled into a heavy throb. She realized she was in some quiet corner of the corridor, someone must have moved her aside—or maybe Sherly’s friends, guilty, had dragged her there. She tried to stand, but her legs wobbled and the ache in her calf made her cry out softly.

She spotted her purse lying nearby and grabbed it with trembling fingers. Pulling out her phone, her eyes widened in alarm—it had been an hour.

Leo must be worried!

Panic rushed through her as she pushed herself up, ignoring the stabbing pain in her leg. She cried quietly but clenched her jaw, unwilling to create a scene at such an important birthday gathering. Step by slow step, she walked back toward the hall.

But the moment she entered, Bella froze.

Everyone’s faces were grave, ugly with seriousness, a heavy tension choking the air. She didn’t understand what had happened—what she had missed in that single hour.

Her eyes darted around until she saw Leo. He was standing tall, rigid, his jaw tight, with Casper and Zion flanking him. Across the room, Mr. William’s face looked thunderous, darker than she’d ever seen before.

Bella’s stomach twisted.

Oh my God... what happened?