CHAPTER 426: CHAPTER 426 HOW DARE HE?

Nothing was going the way Leo had imagined.

Bella smiling across the table while they enjoyed their food. The ballroom had arranged little tables for couples, each decorated like a tiny date setup. A glass of red wine shimmered under the chandelier, desserts and delicate dishes were placed beautifully in front of Bella, and she looked so happy, tasting everything with excitement.

But Leo...

Leo was not happy.

Because that little shit, that backstabber, that traitor, that walking disappointment, Alan kept staring at them from across the ballroom. Every few minutes Leo would catch his gaze wandering toward Bella, lingering far too long, staring at her like she was something he had the right to admire.

How dare he?

How dare he even look at her?

Leo felt a knot tighten in his chest, a suffocating anger rising higher and higher.

It wasn’t just jealousy. It was territorial, protective, sharp. He knew exactly what Alan was like, what thoughts ran through his head when he liked a woman. And the idea of Alan having even a single improper thought about Bella made Leo’s vision blur with rage.

No. Leo exhaled slowly, feeling his pulse throb at his temple.

Did Alan ever imagine Bella? HIS

Bella?

His jaw clenched so hard his teeth ached.

Bella looked up, noticing the storm building in his expression. She paused mid-bite, tilting her head like a confused kitten.

"Leo... what happened? Why are you behaving angry?" she whispered, lifting a spoonful of dessert toward him. "Taste this."

She leaned forward slightly, offering him a bite, her eyes warm and worried.

And just like that, all his anger cracked.

Leo looked at her, cheeks puffed adorably with food, holding a tiny spoon like she was feeding a sulking child. Something inside him melted instantly. His lips twitched in relief. Then, deliberately, he turned his head and looked back at Alan, and smirked.

He leaned closer to Bella, lowering his lashes softly. "I am very angry, my Isa," he said in a gentle, wounded voice, blinking at her like a hurt puppy. "Feed me."

Bella’s eyes widened in shock. For a moment she stared at him, trying to understand if this cold, ruthless man was actually acting cute on purpose. Her heart warmed without warning.

Thinking he was genuinely upset, she immediately started feeding him spoonful after spoonful, her face full of concern.

"But why are you angry?" she finally asked, brushing a crumb from her lip.

Leo swallowed the dessert and looked at her with calm seriousness, even though he was still fuming inside.

"Well... I saw someone I hate," he muttered. "You know he tried to mess with me before. So every time I see him, he makes me angry. Nothing serious, bunny."

Bella blinked slowly, absorbing his explanation.

She didn’t understand why Leo became tense. He had looked angry and unsettled after meeting Alan, at least from what she saw... but maybe she was wrong.

But Leo...

Leo understood every piece of his own anger.

And as Bella fed him another bite of dessert, smiling again, Leo decided that as long as she was looking at him like this, Alan could burn in jealousy all night.

The host announced the couple’s dance, and soft, enchanting music filled the ballroom. One by one, pairs began moving toward the center of the floor, the lights dimming into a warm golden glow that felt almost magical.

Leo stood up slowly, smoothing his tuxedo with one hand. Then he turned to Bella, who blinked up at him with gentle curiosity. In a rare gesture of pure elegance, he extended his hand toward her, bowing his head slightly like a gentleman.

"May I?" he asked, his voice low and warm.

Bella’s smile bloomed instantly. She placed her small hand into his much larger one, her fingers fitting perfectly as if they belonged there from the beginning. Leo curled his hand around hers gently but securely, pulling her up from her chair and guiding her toward the dance floor.

The moment they stepped onto the polished marble, surrounded by other couples, Leo slid one arm firmly around Bella’s waist. She rested her hands lightly on his shoulders, her cheeks glowing under the soft chandelier light. His touch was warm, protective and his eyes never left her face.

The music settled into a slow, dreamy rhythm. Leo led her effortlessly, his steps confident and fluid, his entire focus locked on her. His face dipped lower, close enough for her to feel the soft brush of his breath against her cheek.

Bella’s face turned red immediately. Every time she looked up, she found his eyes already waiting for her, dark and intense, full of emotion she couldn’t name. It was like he was memorizing every tiny expression she made.

He moved closer, his arm tightening around her waist in a quiet, possessive pull. "Don’t look away," he whispered softly.

Bella’s heartbeat stumbled.

Then the tempo shifted, the melody lifting into something elegant and lively. Bella let out a tiny gasp as Leo suddenly spun her out with smooth precision. Her gown twirled beautifully, sparkling under the crystal chandeliers like a ripple of stars.

Before she could lose her balance, Leo caught her back into his arms in one swift motion. His hand slid up her back, settling beneath her shoulder blades, guiding her as if she were something precious.

Bella felt the world tilt.

The way he held her...

The way he looked at her...

The way every step seemed to draw her deeper into a fairytale she never imagined living...

She had never felt so cherished, so wanted, so adored.

And they weren’t the only ones who noticed.

People around them slowed their steps, stealing glances. Some even stopped dancing entirely to watch. The sight of Leo, powerful and cold Moretti, dancing with such tenderness, such intensity, such quiet devotion for his little wife... it was mesmerizing.

Leo’s smile deepened as the final notes of the music floated through the air like a fading breath.

His arm tightened around her waist, guiding her gently as the music approached its end.