Chapter 161: Chapter 161 Liar
"And for the record," he added, giving her a cool, unreadable look, "I’ve seen human bodies before. It’s not a crime."
Bella walked over and sank onto the bed, covering her face with both hands.
"I can’t go outside. I’ll just live here now. This is my room now."
Leo, still holding the cologne bottle, turned slightly. "Good. Saves time. I’ll tell Jay to move your bags."
She peeked at him through her fingers. "You’re not funny."
"I didn’t say it was a joke."
"You’re impossible!"
"So are you." Leo shrugged, perfectly calm.
Bella grabbed a pillow and threw it at his face. He caught it mid-air like it was nothing, tossed it right back onto the bed without blinking.
She sat there, cheeks puffed, legs swinging off the edge like a sulking kitten. And that’s when he finally smirked.Just a tiny curl at the corner of his mouth.
But it was enough.
Her heart skipped like it had been thrown down a hill.
"Don’t worry," he said casually, voice low and teasing, "if the maids ask... I’ll just say you broke into my room last night and attacked me."
"YOU—!" Bella gasped.
Leo turned and walked toward the door, still perfectly composed. "I’ll give you five minutes to sneak out like a little criminal," he added without turning."After that, I’m telling everyone you stayed the night because you couldn’t resist me."
"LEO!!" she shrieked, chasing after him with the pillow again.
But just as she reached him, he suddenly stopped and turned.
He didn’t say a word—just looked at her with those cold, unreadable gray eyes.
She froze mid-step, clutching the pillow like a shield.
"You want to hit me?" he asked calmly.
Bella’s eyes widened like a guilty cat caught stealing fish.
"N-No!" she squeaked. "I’m taking this pillow with me!"
She bolted.
Literally ran down stairs like a cartoon bunny fleeing a wolf.
Leo blinked once... then let out a small breath, amused.
Bella climbed down the third floor, heart pounding. She clutched the pillow to her chest, scolding herself internally. Why did he look so scary?! I was just pretending to be mad! That devil!
And just when she thought she could sneak into her room, a cheerful voice called out.
"Ma’am! You’re here!"
Bella stopped like she’d been hit by lightning.
It was one of the maids standing outside her bedroom door, holding folded laundry in her hands.
Bella forced a smile. "H-Hi."
"I just sent your dress from last night to the laundry," the maid chirped. "Right after I changed your clothes, ma’am!"
Bella blinked. "You... changed me?"
The maid beamed. "Yes! Sir carried you into his room and asked me to change your clothes and remove your makeup. I was surprised at first—wondered why he didn’t take you to your room but maybe... he didn’t want to leave you alone?" She giggled with a knowing wink.
Bella stood frozen.
A slow realization dawning in her head.
Wait...
WAIT...
HE SAID HE CHANGED ME!!!
THAT BIG, FAT LIAR!!!
Her face turned beet red—not from embarrassment anymore, but from pure, boiling rage.
She stormed into her room, dropped the Mr. pillow on her bed, and stood there with steam practically coming out of her ears.
Her cheeks puffed.
Her fists balled.
"Big. Bad. Devil!!!" she whispered furiously.
"He lied! That evil mafia liar! I can’t believe I believed him!!"
She began pacing her room, ranting in a low voice like a mad scientist.
"I should’ve known. He said ’I have eyes’ and ’I’m talented’—ugh!! So smug! I was so embarrassed the whole time! And he was laughing the whole time?!"
She paused in front of her mirror, hands on her hips, glaring at her reflection.
"No wonder he wasn’t embarrassed!"
"Hmph! Just you wait, Leonardo Moretti! I’ll get you back! You want to play jokes? I’ll show you who the real devil is!"
Then she stomped her foot and shouted at the top of her lungs—
"BIG. FAT. MEANIE!"
***
Bella walked down the stairs slowly, her fingers fidgeting with the phone in her hand. She was wearing a soft pastel pink dress dotted with tiny dark pink hearts, a small ribbon bow tied gently at her waist. Her hair was pulled up in a high ponytail, neat and bouncy, with a few loose strands framing her gentle face. She hadn’t applied any makeup, and her cheeks still had a light pink tint from all the blushing she had done since morning.
As soon as she stepped into the dining room, Jay let out a dramatic whistle and clasped his hands like he was watching a runway show. "Well, well, look at our little Bella Bell~" he said, grinning like a proud fool. "Is that dress trying to make the morning jealous?"
Bella flushed from head to toe. She pressed her lips together and narrowed her eyes at him, trying to act angry, but the corner of her mouth betrayed her with the tiniest twitch of a smile.
Leo, who had been forced by Lina to actually sit down and eat breakfast, turned his head sharply. His eyes, cold and unreadable, locked onto Jay like he was ready to commit a crime. Jay caught the glare at another mid-whistle and immediately cleared his throat. "Kidding! Just admiring fashion sense, big bro," he mumbled, giving Leo a sheepish grin.
But he wasn’t done yet.
"Oh, by the way, Bellaaa..." Jay sing-songed, resting his elbow on the table as he leaned toward her. "How was your dinner yesterday?" His tone was far too sweet to be innocent.
Bella froze mid-step.
Her eyes widened, and her grip on the phone tightened as she turned her head slowly toward him.
"Jay," she warned under her breath.
"I saw big brother carrying you to his room," Jay continued shamelessly, dragging the words out with exaggerated curiosity. "I just want to knowww what happened~~ Did someone fall asleep? Or maybe—"
"JAY!!!" Bella shouted, her face burning. She didn’t know whether to throw her phone at his face or bury herself under the dining table. Her eyes darted toward Alessandro and Lina, horrified but both of them just chuckled like it was a morning drama rerun.
And then...
She peeked at the devil sitting across the table.