His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.-Chapter 568

Leo was quiet for a moment, processing. "Smart kid."

"Very." Bella smiled faintly. "She said her sister taught her to be aware of her surroundings."

"I’ll have to thank her later."

They drove in silence for a beat, the mountain road unwinding before them.

Then Leo’s hand reached over, finding hers on the console. His fingers laced through hers, warm and solid.

"Don’t worry," he said quietly. "I’ll handle everything."

Bella looked at their joined hands, then up at his face, the strong jaw, the focused eyes, the way he held himself like he could take on the world and win.

"I know," she said simply.

And she did.

Whatever came next, whatever threat lurked in the darkness, she knew he would find it, stop it, and protect her.

Because that’s what Leo did.

She squeezed his hand, and he squeezed back.

Back in the resort room, the clock on the nightstand glowed 2:13 AM.

The mountain silence pressed against the windows, deep and heavy. Bella lay curled on her side of the bed, blankets pulled to her chin, eyes half-closed but not quite asleep. She had been drifting for the past hour, dipping in and out of consciousness, but each time she reached for Leo’s warmth, his side of the bed was empty.

He was still by the window, phone pressed to his ear, speaking in low, clipped tones to someone on the other end. His silhouette was backlit by the faint glow of the balcony lights, dark and solid and utterly focused.

"Leo." Her voice was soft and sleepy, carrying across the room like a gentle pull. "Come here and rest."

He glanced back at her, his expression softening just slightly. "No, you rest. I’ll be there soon."

She sighed, a small, frustrated sound, and pushed herself up. The blankets pooled around her waist, her hair tumbling over her shoulders in sleepy waves. Without another word, she swung her legs out of bed and padded toward him.

He was still wearing his clothes from the party, the black shirt, the dark pants, the whole sharp, put-together look. She stopped in front of him, and before he could ask anything, her fingers found the buttons of his shirt.

Leo’s brows lifted. A slow, meaningful gleam entered his gray eyes.

Bella rolled her eyes so hard it almost hurt.

She gestured pointedly at his clothes, then at the bed, then back at his clothes. I’m just helping. Don’t get any ideas.

He shrugged one shoulder, the ghost of a smirk tugging at his lips, but he let her work.

Her fingers moved carefully and efficiently, undoing each button with practiced ease. She slipped the shirt from his shoulders, letting it fall, then knelt to help him step out of his pants. He balanced with one hand on her shoulder, watching her with an expression she could not quite read.

She rose and crossed to the wardrobe, pulling out his loose night pants, soft, comfortable, easy to sleep in. He stepped into them without complaint, his eyes never leaving her.

Finally, she stood before him, satisfied.

Then her gaze drifted.

To his back.

The wound was almost healed now. The angry red had faded to a pale, silvery pink, the skin knitting together with the neat precision of good medical care. But the scar remained, a long, jagged line that ran across his shoulder blade, a permanent reminder of how close she had come to losing him.

Her hand lifted without thinking. Her fingers brushed against it, featherlight, tracing the raised tissue.

Leo had just ended his call. The phone lowered to his side. He felt her touch, felt the gentleness in it, and turned slightly to look at her.

"What’s wrong?" His voice was quiet, concerned.

Bella looked up at him, her brown eyes soft in the dim light.

She shook her head.

Nothing was wrong. Everything was right. He was here, alive, standing in front of her. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Leo studied her for a long moment. Then his hand came up, cupping her cheek, his thumb brushing away a tear she had not realized had fallen.

"Bunny," he murmured. "I’m here. I’m not going anywhere."

She nodded, swallowing hard, and leaned into his touch.

"I know," she whispered. "I just hate that you went through that."

He pulled her gently against his chest, careful of his back, one hand cradling her head, the other wrapped around her waist.

"I’d do it again," he said quietly. "If it meant coming home to you."

She buried her face in his chest, breathing him in.

The clock ticked toward 2:30.

And finally, together, they moved toward the bed.

"Who could it be?" he muttered into the darkness, his voice rough with thought even now, even at 2:30 in the morning. The question was not really for her. It was the endless turning of his mind, the constant calculation that never quite stopped.

Bella sighed softly and shifted, making herself comfortable in his arms. Her head found its familiar place in the curve of his shoulder, her body tucked against his side, one leg draped loosely over his. The warmth of him seeped into her, solid and grounding.

"Don’t stress," she murmured against his skin. Her lips brushed his bare chest as she spoke, a featherlight touch that sent a small shiver through him. "We’ll find out tomorrow. Together."

He liked sleeping shirtless nowadays. He said it felt better, freer. She had learned to love it too, the warmth of him, the way she could press her cheek directly to his skin and feel his heartbeat, slow and steady, anchoring her.

Leo kissed her temple, his lips lingering there for a long moment. "Alright."

Peaceful silence settled over them.

Bella’s hand moved on his back slowly and absently. Her fingers traced idle patterns across his skin, over his shoulder, down the ridge of his spine, around to the side of his ribs. She was not thinking about it. Her mind was still turning over the events of the night, the hooded figure, the unknown threat still lurking somewhere in the darkness.

But her hand kept moving.

Leo’s breathing changed just slightly.

"You’re not sleepy anymore?" he asked. His voice was lower now, rougher, a question that was not quite a question.