CHAPTER 358: CHAPTER 358 WHEN DID THAT COLD ROBOT LEARN TO FLIRT?

Inside the small café, the warm golden lights and soft music wrapped around them like a cozy evening dream. The bell above the door chimed gently as Leo and Bella walked in together, drawing a few curious glances from the customers seated nearby. They really did look like a beautiful couple; his tall, composed figure beside her soft, bright presence made them impossible not to notice.

Leo, dressed in a black shirt with the sleeves slightly rolled, looked effortlessly handsome. One hand was in his pocket, the other resting loosely at his side as he glanced down at the woman walking next to him. Bella, in her white top and wide-legged pants, looked fresh and graceful, her long brown hair brushing lightly over her shoulders. Her honey-brown eyes shone as she looked at the glass display filled with pastries, and the simple joy on her face made her look beautiful.

Bella noticed he was quiet and slightly sulky, the kind of quiet that only Leo could pull off and still look good doing it. She smiled to herself and decided to cheer him up.

"Leo, do you like vanilla flavor?" she asked, tilting her head playfully. "They have a couple offer. We should eat here together!"

His eyes flickered toward her, and for a second, something bright softened the sharp lines of his face. But then, as always, he masked it with his usual calm expression.

"Sure," he said lightly, though his deep voice carried a faint trace of amusement beneath it.

Bella grinned, pleased, and picked the couple pack from the counter. The box looked adorable with two small vanilla ice creams, a slice of vanilla cake, and some savory evening snacks.

They found a quiet corner table near the window. The last rays of sunset filtered through the glass, painting the table in a soft orange glow. Bella carefully opened the box and pushed one of the little ice cream cups toward him.

"Here," she said with a smile, "your share."

Leo leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes fixed on her as she tried to balance her spoon and scoop her ice cream without dropping it. He didn’t move for a moment, just watched her in silence, the way her lips curved when she concentrated, the way a strand of her hair kept falling near her cheek.

"Stop staring," Bella said shyly, not looking up.

"I’m not staring," he replied smoothly, taking his first spoonful of ice cream. "I’m observing."

She rolled her eyes, though the pink rising in her cheeks gave her away. "Observing what?"

He looked at her, his gaze steady and soft. "How even vanilla looks better when you eat it."

"Leo!" she said, blushing hard and covering her face with her hands.

He chuckled quietly, the sound deep and low, and took another bite of his ice cream. "What? I’m just being honest."

Meanwhile, in the far corner of the café, Alexa stirred her drink absentmindedly, waiting for someone. The last thing she expected was to see him.

Her heart gave a sharp, unwanted twist when her eyes landed on Leo, sitting just a few tables away, calm and striking in that black shirt, his gray eyes softer than she had ever seen them. And beside him sat Bella, dressed simply yet glowing like she owned all the light in the room.

Alexa’s fingers clenched around her handkerchief as she bit it quietly, her jaw tight with anger. She could feel her pulse rising, her breath uneven. What was this? Since when did Leonardo Moretti, the Leonardo who hated sweets, who once said sugar made people weak, start eating ice cream?

She narrowed her eyes, unable to look away. His expression wasn’t the cold, unreadable one she was used to. No. Now his face looked alive. He was actually smiling. And his gaze, oh that gaze, was locked on Bella like she was the only thing that existed.

A wave of heat rose in Alexa’s chest, part jealousy, part disbelief. When did that cold robot learn to flirt? she thought bitterly, pressing her fingers to her temple.

Her eyes drifted back to Bella, who was laughing softly, brushing her hair behind her ear as Leo leaned slightly closer to say something. The sound of her laughter reached Alexa faintly, and it burned.

Bella looked different now, still delicate, but no longer small or naive. Her clothes fit her perfectly, her hair framed her face in soft waves, and her movements had a quiet confidence that Alexa couldn’t stand to watch.

The girls sitting at the next table only made things worse.

"Oh my god, look at them," one whispered, clasping her hands together. "They’re such a gorgeous couple."

"I know, right? They look like models! I swear they could be celebrities. Look at his face, and her smile!" another giggled, sneaking glances their way.

Alexa’s fingers tightened around her cup so hard it creaked. Her nails pressed into her palm, but she couldn’t stop herself from listening. Every word felt like salt rubbed into her pride.

Her teeth sank into her lower lip as she glared at the back of Bella’s head. You think you’ve won just because he looks at you like that?

Her reflection in the window caught her eye, a perfect image of control cracking at the edges.

She forced a smile, lifted her glass, and took a long, bitter sip of her coffee.

It tasted just like how she felt.

The faint ding of a notification broke Alexa’s hateful staring. She glanced at her phone, expecting her meeting partner’s message, only to see a curt text flash on the screen:

Can’t make it. Something came up.

For a second, she just stared, disbelief turning into quiet fury. The ice in her coffee had melted completely, matching her mood. She let out a dry laugh and tossed the phone into her purse with more force than necessary.

Of course. Just perfect.

First, she had to sit here watching Leonardo Moretti, her Leonardo, feeding another woman cake like a scene from a romance film. Now the man she had come to meet had the audacity to cancel at the last minute.

She looked up again. Leo was standing now, calmly collecting the parcel bags from the counter while Bella held a paper cup with both hands, smiling as if she had never known what heartbreak even felt like.

That smile. That damned, sweet smile.

Alexa’s teeth ground together. Fu*king Bella, she thought, her nails digging into her palm. I hope you get diabetes from all that sugar you love so much, and I hope you grow so fat that Leo abandons you like everyone should have from the start.