Chapter 156: Chapter 156 Warm?
It was on the girl sitting next to him.
Bella.
His wife.
Currently stuck... in a chair.
Leo’s cold gray eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he watched the little scene unfold in silence.
Bella was trying to stand up but failing miserably.
Her arms gripped the sides of the chair like it was her mortal enemy. Her expression was dead serious, as if she was confronting a toxic ex-boyfriend.
"No, Mr. Chair," she said under her breath, voice slurred but fierce. "You can’t keep me here. Let me go. I mean it."
Her foot slipped and she landed back on the seat with a soft thud.
"I know you like me," she continued, glaring at the cushion as if it had confessed its love to her. "But it’s over! I’m married. I have a husband. A mean one. But still! I can’t cheat with a chair!"
Leo blinked.
Then looked away.
His jaw ticked, trying not to react. But his shoulders trembled just the slightest bit... from holding back a laugh.
The waiter, poor man, awkwardly turned away, pretending he saw nothing.
Bella tried again, gritting her teeth.
This time, she leaned forward, clutching the edge of the table for support, her legs wobbly under the green dress. She looked like a baby deer trying to stand for the first time.
"I swear, if you don’t let me go, I’m calling Scarlett," she whispered to the chair like it was alive.
That was it.
Leonardo walked over, reached down without a word, and gently hooked one arm under hers, pulling her to her feet with minimal effort.
Her eyes blinked up at him, still dazed.
"You’re free now," he said dryly.
Bella gasped, holding his arm. "You saved me from that clingy chair! My hero!"
He ignored her words, but the corner of his mouth twitched.
"...Let’s go," he said, already turning to lead her out, his hand steady at her back, guiding her with the kind of subtle protectiveness he didn’t even realize he showed anymore.
Bella stumbled slightly, her heels tapping unevenly against the smooth floor. Before she could fall, a strong arm wrapped around her waist. Leonardo caught her with ease, his grip steady as his hand rested along the curve of her side, holding her close just long enough to keep her from tipping over.
She blinked up at him, a little dazed, her cheeks flushed—not entirely from the wine.
However, her stubborn little heart didn’t want help.
So, the moment she found balance again, she quickly pushed his hand away and darted forward with a determined pout.
"Isabella!" he called sharply, his deep voice low and laced with warning.
She glanced back, stuck her tongue out at him playfully, and then spun on her heel, giggling as she skipped ahead like a rebellious rabbit. The waiter ran over at that exact moment, handing Leo his card back. Leo took it with a curt nod, but his eyes were already fixed on her retreating figure.
And that’s when he saw her stepping out the door, heading straight toward the road.
His entire body tensed.
"Bella!" he shouted.
She turned toward his voice, but her foot twisted on the edge of the curb. "Oh—" her soft cry slipped out as she stumbled and landed on the ground with a thud, her dress fanning around her like a green flower.
Cars honked, people glanced. A few began to move toward her.
He was already moving before he could think. His strides were long and powerful, cutting through the space between them like a storm. In seconds, he was in front of her, eyes scanning her quickly, jaw clenched so tight the muscle near his temple twitched.
"Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice rougher than usual.
Bella looked up at him, her lips trembling, her big eyes glassy with tears. "My foot hurts..." she sniffled, sounding so small.
Leo let out a heavy breath—not in frustration, but relief. His gaze dropped to her ankle for a second, then back to her face. He turned around and crouched in front of her, not even waiting for her to process what he was doing.
"Climb on," he said flatly.
Bella blinked. "Huh...?"
"I’ll carry you." His voice softened just a little. "I’m not letting you limp across a road."
She hesitated. Her lips parted. "O-okay..."
And then she climbed onto his back, awkward at first but then her arms slid around his shoulders, and her soft body pressed against his back, her breath brushing the edge of his neck. She clung to him like a sleepy kitten.
Her legs wrapped tightly around his waist as he rose to his feet, lifting her effortlessly. The fabric of her dress slid slightly up her thighs with the motion, bunching gently at her hips, but she didn’t care, her arms were locked around his shoulders, her breath caught between his lips.
Leo’s hands gripped under her thighs, strong and secure. He could feel her warmth against his back, her cheek resting softly against his.
He swallowed hard.
The cold edge of his composure was slipping.
He could feel every part of her, from the way her arms curled around him to how her scent tickled his senses. The sweetness of her scent like Choklate and vanilla was driving him insane.
Her breath against his skin made something spark in his chest.
"Leo?" she whispered, voice sleepy and tipsy against his neck.
"...Yeah?" he replied, his voice lower than usual.
"Your back is really warm," she murmured, her fingers curling around the front of his shirt gently.
Leo felt like his brain short-circuited for a second.
Warm?
She had no idea what she was doing to him just by being this close. Her voice, her touch, her breath—all of it was like fire and honey. And yet she didn’t even realize it.
He didn’t respond.
He couldn’t.
Instead, he adjusted his grip and began walking toward the car, ignoring the pounding in his chest and the heat pooling low in his gut.
She’s drunk, he reminded himself.
But her arms tightening around him said something else.
And as she smiled softly, resting her cheek on his shoulder once again, Leo knew this feeling wasn’t going anywhere.