His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.-Chapter 469 Trekking (2)

Dominique let out a long, tragic sigh as he watched Bella and Leo strolling along the lake, their fingers loosely linked, talking in soft voices only the two of them could hear. The sunlight wrapped around them, the breeze played with Bella’s hair, and Leo kept brushing her cheek every few steps as if she might disappear if he didn’t touch her.

Dominique clutched his chest dramatically. "Look at them. Look at this shameless display of perfect love. My heart... my heart is injured."

Jason rolled his eyes. "You’re being dramatic again."

Dominique pointed at Bella and Leo like he was pointing at an ancient prophecy. "I am dramatic because I, a loyal and devoted man, have been waiting six months for my Miss Mystery Woman. Six months. And she hasn’t even fallen from the sky in front of me yet."

Jason snorted. "Maybe she’s avoiding you."

"She is not avoiding me." Dominique glared. "She rescued me on a stormy night. She gave me a lift. She had blue eyes, a snake tattoo, and the aura of someone who could ruin my entire life romantically. I will wait for her forever."

Casper walked over, hands in pockets, watching the couples ahead. "Honestly, even I’m starting to want a girlfriend. Look at Zion and Scarlett."

They turned.

A little distance away, Scarlett had her arms wrapped around herself, admiring the way the lake reflected soft shades of blue. Zion stood beside her, quiet and gentle, adjusting her hair before lifting his phone to take photos of her. Scarlett pretended not to blush, but the pink on her cheeks gave her away. Zion clicked another picture and whispered something only she could hear, and Scarlett hid her face in his shoulder.

Dominique pointed at them again. "See? Even they’re in love. And here I am, a man of culture and loyalty, heartbroken and alone because my soulmate is a masked ninja who disappeared into thin air."

Jason patted his back with pity. "You don’t even know her name."

"I know her soul," Dominique declared proudly.

Casper tried to hide his laugh. "Bro, you’re whipped."

"Whipped? I am devoted. True love requires devotion."

Meanwhile, Jay and Jace were laughing so loudly near a tree that both Dominique and Jason looked at them suspiciously. Jace pointed at something in the branches, and Jay leaned closer, laughing like a schoolgirl.

Jason blinked. "What are they doing?"

"Whatever it is," Dominique said, "they’re happy. And I am happy for them. But also, I refuse to settle for anyone except my tattooed goddess."

Casper nodded. "Fair. She sounds hot."

Dominique sighed dramatically again. "I pray she returns soon. My heart can’t handle seeing one more couple kiss today. If they start kissing by the lake, I will walk into the water and never come back."

Jason laughed so hard he almost choked, while Casper shook his head.

They continued their trek after leaving the lakeside behind, following a winding trail that slowly led them deeper into the forest. The morning sun filtered through the tall trees, breaking into soft patches of gold that danced across their faces as they walked. The earth smelled fresh, the air was cool, and the chirping of birds made the entire journey feel peaceful and almost dreamlike.

Bella walked close to Leo, her fingers automatically slipping between his as she gazed at everything with childlike wonder. Every few steps, she spotted something tiny mushrooms under a fallen log, a butterfly resting on a leaf, a squirrel running across a branch and each time she stopped with a soft gasp of fascination. Leo pretended to sigh in annoyance, but the tiny smile tugging at his lips betrayed him.

"Don’t run off," he said quietly, touching her elbow as the path narrowed.

"I didn’t run," Bella whispered back, her cheeks warm, and she leaned slightly into him.

Zion and Scarlett followed behind them. Scarlett walked with careful steps, still a little dizzy from before, and Zion adjusted his pace to match hers. Whenever the ground became uneven, he offered his hand wordlessly until she regained balance, and Scarlett would take it with forced nonchalance even though her cheeks kept turning rosy.

Meanwhile, Dominique and Jason brought chaos to the serene forest.

"No, look at my walking posture," Dominique said dramatically. "This is how models walk. Smooth. Graceful. Elegant."

Jason snorted. "You look like a malfunctioning robot. Stop embarrassing the forest."

Casper nearly choked on his water laughing. "Can you two be normal for once?"

Behind them, Jay and Jace walked quietly, their shoulders occasionally brushing. They paused often sometimes to admire a tree, sometimes because Jay wanted to show Jace a strange shaped pebble, and sometimes because Jace started explaining random facts about insects that Jay pretended to understand.

As the forest opened into a small clearing, sunlight spilled over them like a warm blanket, and everyone paused to breathe in the freshness.

"This is nice..." Bella murmured, her eyes sparkling as she tilted her face up to the light.

Leo watched her quietly, the corners of his mouth softening. She always looked beautiful, but in the middle of nature, with wind brushing her hair and sunlight kissing her cheeks, she looked unreal.

Dominique sighed dramatically. "Look at them. Look at the romance. Look at the chemistry. God, I feel single."

Jason immediately glared. "You are single."

"You’re single too," Dominique snapped.

"Yeah, but I am happy."

"No you’re not."

Dominique stomped ahead, making everyone laugh.

Scarlett rolled her eyes. "Those two are exhausting."

Zion’s arm brushed hers lightly. "Good thing we’re not like them."

Scarlett stiffened, blushed, then pretended to cough. "Y... yeah, good thing."

The group walked forward again, now following a gentle downhill path that led toward a shaded part of the forest, the air becoming cooler and filled with the soft rustle of leaves.

Bella leaned into Leo again, her voice low and warm. "I’m happy..."

Leo squeezed her hand. "Me too."

And together, surrounded by bickering friends, teasing voices, sunlight and trees, they kept trekking deeper into the beautiful forest, creating the kind of memories that settle softly into the heart and never leave.