His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.-Chapter 500 Guest

Early the next morning, Bella woke slowly, her mind still hazy with sleep. For a moment, she did not understand why she felt so warm and slightly pinned, until she looked down and realized Leo’s head was resting comfortably against her chest, his arm loosely wrapped around her waist. He was sleeping deeply, breathing slow and steady, completely relaxed, as if she were the most natural pillow in the world.

She smiled despite herself and gently tried to push his heavy head away.

He groaned softly, turning his face closer instead of moving away.

"You’re so clingy," Bella whispered, half amused, half helpless.

He did not answer. He was still fast asleep, lashes resting against his cheeks, hair very messy in a way she rarely got to see. With his shirt discarded somewhere during the night, his bare back and shoulders were on full display, muscles relaxed instead of tense, looking almost unfairly beautiful in the soft morning light.

Bella bit her lip.

Who would have thought Leo could be so... greedy? Not the cold, controlled man the world knew, but this version of him who never seemed to get enough of her. Last night, after dinner, he had not let her fall asleep easily at all, and now here he was, sleeping like a baby, peaceful and completely unbothered.

A very naughty, very big baby, she thought fondly.

Careful not to wake him, Bella slipped out from under his arm and adjusted the blanket back over him. He shifted once, his brows knitting slightly, but he did not wake. Satisfied, she padded into the bathroom, got ready, and slipped into a soft yellow dress that made her feel light and happy.

When she glanced back at the bed one last time, Leo was still asleep, one arm stretched out as if reaching for her even in his dreams.

Her smile softened.

Then she quietly headed downstairs, the warmth of the morning and her own happiness following her with every step.

"Ma’am, we have a guest," the maid said softly as Bella reached the bottom of the stairs.

"A guest?" Bella slowed, her fingers brushing the railing. "Theo?" she asked without thinking, a hopeful light flickering briefly in her eyes.

The maid hesitated, then shook her head gently. "No, ma’am. Sir William is here."

Bella blinked, surprise replacing her smile. Sir William? At this hour?

"Oh... okay," she said after a moment, composing herself. "Thank you for telling me."

She walked toward the living room, her steps quieter than usual. William was already seated on the sofa, his posture dignified, though his shoulders were slightly tense. His secretary sat nearby, respectful and silent.

"Sir?" Bella called softly as she sat across from him, folding her hands in her lap.

William looked up at her, his gaze lingering longer than necessary, as if making sure she was truly alright. "How are you feeling today, dear?" he asked, concern slipping into his voice.

"I’m much better," Bella replied honestly. "I slept well. I feel... okay now."

"That’s good," he said, nodding slowly. "Very good." He paused, then added, "What happened gave me quite a scare, to be honest."

Bella smiled faintly. "I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry."

"You don’t need to apologize, dear," William said immediately.

She looked at him curiously. "You came all this way just to check on me?"

His lips parted, then closed again, as if choosing his words carefully. "Partly," he admitted. "But there is another reason."

Bella tilted her head slightly. "You look serious."

"I am," he said quietly. "But before that, tell me, are you eating properly? Are you resting?"

She laughed softly. "Leo is making sure I do both. Sometimes a little too much."

William’s eyes softened at the mention of Leo. "That sounds good."

Bella hesitated, then asked gently, "Sir... did something happen?"

William inhaled deeply, his fingers tightening around the handle of his cane. "You might wonder why I didn’t call first."

"I did think about it," Bella admitted, "but I figured you must have your reasons."

He nodded. "This is not something I wanted to say over the phone. It is something that should be said face to face."

Bella’s smile faded slightly. "You’re making me nervous."

Before he could respond, footsteps echoed from the stairs.

"You’re here?"

Bella turned instantly.

Leo was walking toward them, his voice low and rough with sleep. He wore a dark sweatshirt and loose sweatpants, his hair slightly messy, his presence filling the room without effort. He looked at William first, then at Bella.

"Did I interrupt something?" Leo asked, his tone polite but alert.

William straightened. "Good morning, Leonardo."

"Morning," Leo replied, moving naturally to Bella’s side, one hand resting on the back of the couch behind her. "I didn’t know we had a guest."

"I just arrived," William said. "I hope you don’t mind."

"Of course not," Leo said calmly. "You’re always welcome."

Bella glanced between them. "Sir William said he has something important to tell me," she said softly.

Leo’s gaze sharpened slightly. "Important?"

William looked at Leo, then back at Bella. "Yes. Very important."

The room fell quiet.

Bella swallowed. "You can tell me. I’m listening."

William hesitated again, then spoke, his voice slower now. "What I’m about to say may come as a shock. And I don’t want you to feel pressured to react in any way."

Leo leaned slightly closer to Bella, his presence steady and grounding. "If this is too much, we can stop," he said quietly.

Bella nodded, though her heart had begun to beat faster. "No. I want to hear it."

William met her gaze, emotion flickering through his eyes. "Alright, then."

William exhaled slowly, as if the words themselves were heavy in his chest. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and trembling despite his effort to stay composed.

"...You’re my granddaughter."

For a second, the world seemed to stop.

Bella blinked once. Then again. The words did not make sense, as if they had been spoken in a language she did not know. Her lips parted, but no sound came out.

Leo stiffened beside her. His brows drew together instantly, his entire body shifting into alert stillness.

"What?" he asked sharply, disbelief cutting through his calm.