CHAPTER 431: CHAPTER 431 UNFORGIVABLE

Leo felt anger rush through his whole body, sharp and hot, and his chest tightened as he looked around.

Where is Bella?

He held his phone close, listening carefully, and his steps became faster. He didn’t care about anyone staring at him. His only thought was Bella.

He reached the nearby room and noticed the door completely shut, and something inside him dropped. He didn’t even think before he started banging on it, his fist hitting the wood again and again.

A waiter nearby ran toward him, shocked. "S-sir, what are you doing?"

"Open the door!" Leo snapped, his voice rough and shaking with anger.

The waiter stuttered, "I-I don’t have the key, sir—"

"Useless," Leo muttered sharply, not waiting another second.

He stepped back once and kicked the door with full strength.

The lock broke instantly, and the door flew open.

Leo’s eyes widened the moment he saw what was inside.

Bella was standing in the room, trembling badly, tears stuck to her eyelashes, her whole body shaking like she couldn’t even find her balance. She looked confused, her eyes not focusing on anything properly.

And Alan was too close to her.

Leo didn’t think twice.

He walked straight in and punched Alan across the face so hard that Alan stumbled back, shocked and clutching his cheek.

"Bella!" Leo called, rushing to her, not even looking at Alan anymore.

Bella looked up at him with unfocused, scared eyes, and her hands reached toward him weakly. Leo immediately pulled her into his arms, holding her tight against his chest as if he could shield her from everything.

"I’m here," he whispered urgently, his voice low and tense. His hand cupped the back of her head as she buried her face against him, shaking uncontrollably. "I’m here, bunny. I’ve got you."

He held her closer, his jaw clenched, his whole body shaking with anger and fear mixing together.

Alan stood still, breathing heavily, looking shocked at what he had done.

But Leo didn’t look at him. Bella was the only thing he cared about right now.

The loud crash and Leo’s furious shouting had already drawn attention, and within seconds people began gathering at the doorway. Faces appeared in the hall, shocked, whispering, trying to understand what had happened inside that room.

Some gasped when they saw Bella trembling in Leo’s arms.

Others stared at Alan holding his bruised cheek.

Alan felt something heavy collapse inside him, a sharp, painful guilt that made his stomach twist. His eyes kept flicking to Bella’s shaking form, and regret washed over him so strongly he felt dizzy. He hadn’t meant to scare her. He hadn’t meant any of this. But the sight of her fear, her tears... it was unforgivable.

Leo didn’t even spare him a glance.

He was too panicked.

"Bella... look at me," Leo whispered urgently, cupping her face with a trembling hand. But Bella’s breath came out fast and broken, her eyes red and unfocused, her lashes wet with tears she couldn’t stop.

"Where... where is the door... Leo... Leo..." she muttered, her voice tiny and lost. She looked around as if she couldn’t recognise the room at all.

His heart squeezed painfully.

He had never seen her like this. Never seen her this scared. Never seen her this lost.

Without a second thought, he scooped her up into his arms, holding her tight against his chest. His grip trembled slightly, not from weakness but from fear, real fear.

He strode toward the doorway, his footsteps loud and heavy. People in the hall stepped back instantly, the room filling with gasps.

One glare from him was enough. No one dared block his path.

"Move," he said sharply, his eyes cold and dangerous.

The crowd instantly parted, leaving a clear path for him.

Bella buried her face in his shoulder, her fingers gripping his suit so tightly her knuckles turned white. A small, shaky sob escaped her as she held onto him like a lifeline.

"Hiccup... hiccup..."

Her breath hitched again, her body trembling against him.

"Bella... you’re safe," Leo whispered, tightening his hold on her. His voice was low, rough, and desperate. "I’m here. I’ve got you."

He pressed his cheek to her hair, breathing in small, uneven breaths as if he needed the reassurance just as much as she did.

Bella sniffed and hugged him even tighter, her legs curling inward as she clung to him.

Leo swallowed hard.

He had never felt fear like this.

Never.

"Bunny... it’s okay. You’re safe now," he murmured again, his lips brushing the top of her head.

His hand rubbed her back slowly, steadying her breathing as he carried her away.

"Private hospital, Spring Villa, as usual!" Leo barked the moment he slid into the backseat of the car. His voice was sharp, impatient, almost shaking with leftover panic. The driver didn’t even dare look back; he just nodded quickly and started the engine.

Leo pulled Bella onto his lap, holding her tight against his chest as if letting go even for a second would make her slip away from him. She was still crying, soft and broken, her face buried in his shirt. Each little sob stabbed him straight in the heart.

He didn’t know what to do.

He didn’t know how to fix this.

Seeing her like this — trembling, scared, unable to breathe properly — made his chest feel too tight. His hand kept rubbing her back in slow circles, trying to steady her breathing, trying to help her calm down even though he was still shaking inside.

"Bella... calm down," he whispered, his voice gentler now, almost pleading. "Take deep breaths, bunny... breathe slowly for me."

Bella sniffed, her hands gripping his shirt tightly, as if her fingers were searching for something solid to hold onto. She tried to breathe in, but her chest kept tightening on its own, the leftover fear refusing to leave her body.

"Hic... Leo..." she choked out, her voice so small he almost didn’t hear it.

"I’m here," Leo said immediately, his arms wrapping around her even tighter. He rested his chin on her head, pressing a soft, protective kiss to her hair. "I’m not letting you go, okay? You’re safe now... nothing will happen to you."