His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.-Chapter 586 Lake Day

Dom set down his cutlery with a soft clink and turned to Jason with an expression of mild, sophisticated interest.

"You know, Jason," he said, his voice smooth as aged whiskey, "I once had breakfast at a small palace in Maco. The head chef personally prepared croissants for me. He said my feedback would ’elevate his craft.’" He paused, taking a delicate sip of water. "These are acceptable. Not quite Maco, but... acceptable." Maco was a luxurious city, known for its luxury. It was hard to afford anything there.

Jason nodded gravely, playing along perfectly. "Maco does set a high bar."

"It does." Dom sighed softly, like a man burdened by his own refined tastes. "But one must adapt. Not every morning can be spent in the company of royalty."

Nicolas’s face had gone from red to pale.

Marcus set down his coffee, suddenly looking like he wanted to disappear.

Bella pressed her hand to her mouth, her shoulders shaking.

Leo didn’t look interested as he watched Bella laugh, which was far more interesting.

And Hazel stared at Dom like she was seeing him for the first time.

Dom glanced toward Nicolas, offering a small, gracious nod, the kind you give to servants who have done their job adequately.

Then he turned back to his pastry, completely unbothered, and took another perfect, elegant bite.

Jason silently mouthed across the table, That was beautiful.

Dom’s eyes sparkled.

Nicolas’s coffee went cold.

After that, Nicolas and Marcus couldn’t get out fast enough.

Nicolas practically threw his napkin on the table, stood so abruptly his chair scraped against the floor, and stormed toward the exit. Marcus scrambled after him, nearly tripping over his own feet, his expensive coffee forgotten and abandoned.

The moment the door swung shut behind them—

Jason lost it.

He slammed both hands on the table, his head thrown back, laughter exploding out of him like he had been holding it in for years. "BRO! I THOUGHT YOU ALMOST MADE THAT RAT FACE GAY!"

Dom tried to stay composed. He really tried. He lifted his napkin, dabbed his mouth with practiced elegance—

And then completely cracked.

His sophisticated mask shattered, replaced by the goofiest, most delighted grin imaginable. He doubled over, laughing so hard his forehead nearly hit the table.

"Did you see his face?" Dom wheezed, gasping for air. "When I mentioned Maco? I thought his soul left his body!"

"It left, bro! It ascended!" Jason was crying now, actual tears streaming down his cheeks. "And Marcus, Marcus with his fancy coffee and his ’organic ingredients,’ he looked like he wanted to crawl under the table and die!"

"His mouth was open for like ten full seconds!"

"Twelve! I counted!"

They both dissolved again, clutching each other across the table, absolutely unhinged with glee.

Across the room, Bella had given up all pretense of composure. She was laughing openly, her head resting against Leo’s shoulder, tears in her eyes.

Hazel sat perfectly still, watching Dom with an expression no one had ever seen on her face before.

He was ridiculous. He was loud. He was currently crying with laughter over humiliating her almost-ex in the most extra way possible. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

And she couldn’t look away.

Dom caught her eye mid-laugh, still grinning, still glowing with triumph.

"Sorry," he managed, still breathless. "Were we too much?"

Hazel’s lips curved.

"Not even close," she said.

Dom’s grin widened.

After breakfast, Leo and Bella left together, hand in hand, walking toward the waiting car.

A guide was already seated in the front, a local man who knew the area well, recommended by resort security. Behind them, a second car carried extra guards, a necessary precaution Leo refused to compromise on. The hooded man from the lounge still had not been found, and until he was, Leo’s alertness never fully switched off.

Bella noticed the way his eyes swept the parking area before he helped her into the car. The way his jaw stayed just slightly tight. The way his hand found hers immediately once they were settled.

She didn’t mind. His vigilance made her feel safe, not suffocated.

The drive to the lake was beautiful.

Mountains rolled past the window, green and ancient, dotted with wildflowers in shades of purple and yellow. Streams cut through valleys, glittering in the morning light. The air, even through the closed windows, felt fresh and clean.

Bella leaned against Leo’s shoulder, her hand resting in his. Her fingers traced slow, absent patterns on his palm, circles, lines, small shapes, while her eyes stayed fixed on the view outside.

The warmth of his hand. The steadiness of his presence. The way the world moved past them like a painting.

"Leo," she whispered.

He glanced down at her, his gray eyes soft. "Hmm?"

She hesitated. Her fingers stilled on his palm for just a moment, then resumed their tracing.

"I... I want something."

His expression shifted, curious, but warm. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Tell me what you want. I’ll get it for you as soon as I can."

She looked up at him, her brown eyes holding something tender and a little mysterious. "I’ll tell you later."

He studied her for a moment, curiosity flickering behind his eyes. But he didn’t push.

"Later," he agreed softly, and lifted her hand to press a kiss to her knuckles.

The car wound through the mountain roads, climbing gently, until finally—

The lake appeared.

It was massive, stretching out like a sheet of liquid glass cupped between towering cliffs. The water was impossibly clear, reflecting the sky in shades of deep blue and soft white. Cliffs rose on either side, jagged and dramatic, their stone faces catching the sunlight in warm golds and cool grays. A small wooden dock extended into the water, and a row of pine trees lined the shore, their needles whispering in the breeze.

Bella’s breath caught.

"Oh," she breathed. "Leo..."

He was watching her, not the view.

"Beautiful," he agreed.

But he wasn’t looking at the lake.

She turned to him, her cheeks flushing, and swatted his arm lightly. "You’re supposed to look at the view."

"I am."

She shook her head, but she was smiling, a glowing smile that made her more beautiful than any landscape.

The car stopped. The guide got out first, speaking quietly with the security team. Within minutes, the area was swept and deemed safe.

Leo helped Bella out of the car.

Her feet touched the soft grass near the shore, and she walked toward the water, drawn by its stillness. The air smelled of pine and clean water and something wild and free.

She stopped at the edge, close enough to see her reflection in the clear depths.

Leo came up behind her, his hands settling on her waist, pulling her gently against his chest. His chin rested on top of her head.

"Worth the drive?" he murmured.

She leaned back into him, her hands covering his where they rested on her stomach.

"So worth it," she whispered.