His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.-Chapter 529 Cry

Jay froze the moment his eyes landed on Leo’s back.

"No..." he whispered under his breath, shock spreading across his face as he stepped closer. The injury looked worse up close, deeper and more serious than he had expected, the fresh stitches cutting across bruised, damaged skin in a way that made his chest tighten.

Alessandro stood beside the bed, his jaw slowly tightening as he took in the sight. The concern on his face was impossible to hide now. For a long moment, he said nothing, but the shift in his expression said enough. He did not like what he was seeing at all.

Bella remained by Leo’s side, exhausted but unwilling to move away, as if stepping back even once might somehow abandon him.

Alessandro turned to her, his gaze softening instantly. He stepped closer and pulled her into a brief, gentle embrace, one hand resting against the back of her head as he patted her hair in a quiet, comforting way.

"Bella," he said softly, "you need to take some rest."

She shook her head right away.

"I’m fine," she murmured, though her voice sounded thinner and weaker than usual.

Jay glanced at her more carefully, noticing the dark circles under her eyes, the way her shoulders drooped under the weight of exhaustion she had been ignoring.

"No, Bella," Jace added quietly. "You should go get ready. You are still wearing your gown. I will bring you clothes and whatever you need."

He gestured lightly toward the separate family room that had been prepared nearby.

Bella shook her head again, more stubborn this time.

"I don’t want to leave him," she said softly as she sat back in the chair, her eyes returning to Leo’s still face.

The room grew quieter.

Alessandro’s expression shifted, his voice turning firmer, colder at the edges, though the warmth beneath it remained. "Bella," he said, "go and rest. Jace will bring you clothes and the necessary things."

His tone left no space for argument.

Bella looked up at him, hesitating. For a moment, it seemed like she might refuse again, but exhaustion tugged at her more strongly now, making it harder to stand her ground.

Slowly, she stood up.

Her movements were unhurried, heavy, as if every step required effort.

She nodded faintly. "Okay," she whispered.

Before leaving, her gaze lingered on Leo for a quiet second longer, her eyes soft, aching, unwilling to let go.

Then she turned and walked toward the family room, her steps slow and subdued, while the others remained behind, standing watch in silence.

***

Jace left Jay and Alessandro alone and headed straight to the nearest mall, his mind fixed on only one thing.

Bella.

He chose comfortable clothes instead of anything fancy, soft fabrics she could wear easily without effort. He picked up a toothbrush, toothpaste, skincare, hair ties, water, snacks, and other small necessities she might need. He tried to think of every detail, every little comfort, because he knew she would not think about herself right now.

Half an hour later, he returned to the medical center and went straight to the family room.

When he opened the door, the sight inside made his chest tighten painfully.

Bella was sitting on the bed, hugging her knees close to her chest, her arms wrapped tightly around them. She looked small, drained, and fragile, her gown still on, her hair messy, loose strands falling around her tired face. Her posture looked closed off, as if she were trying to hold herself together and keep herself from breaking completely.

Seeing her like that hurt him deeply.

He placed the bags quietly on the sofa and walked toward her, then sat beside her on the bed, careful not to startle her.

"Bella... he is okay," he said gently. "Do not worry too much."

She slowly turned her head to look at him. But the moment he saw her eyes clearly, his heart dropped.

They looked empty. Blank. Like she had cried too much already and now had nothing left to give.

Without thinking, Jace leaned forward and pulled her into a tight hug, holding her against his chest.

"Bellatrix... cry," he whispered softly.

At first, she stayed frozen, stiff in his arms. Then her control finally broke.

A broken sob escaped her chest, followed by another, and soon she began crying openly, her shoulders shaking as she buried her face against him. The tears she had been holding back all night finally spilled out, heavy and unstoppable.

Jace held her firmly, one hand rubbing her back in slow, steady motions.

"You have been so strong for him," he said softly. "I heard what happened. I know everything you did. You stayed calm. You protected him. You handled everything when others could not."

His voice grew warmer, heavier with emotion.

"You were strong like the Bellatrix I know," he murmured. "Smart. Brave. Steady. You carried so much on your shoulders alone."

Bella cried harder, clutching his shirt as if she needed something to hold onto to keep from falling apart.

"You are amazing," Jace continued gently. "And once Leo wakes up, he will be grateful for you. He will understand how much you did for him."

He pressed a soft kiss to her hair. "Cry as much as you want," he said quietly. "You do not need to hold it in. Not here. Not with me."

To him, she felt like a little sister in that moment. Someone precious. Someone he wanted to protect from pain.

And Seeing her cry like this hurt him more than he wanted to admit.

He stayed close, letting her cry against him for as long as she needed, his hand still moving in slow, comforting circles on her back.

"He is in so much pain," Bella whispered, her voice trembling. "I know how much it hurts..."

The words came out barely above a breath, as if speaking louder might make the reality heavier.

Her fingers tightened slightly in Jace’s shirt as another wave of emotion passed through her. Her face remained buried near his shoulder, tears soaking quietly into the fabric.

"I do not want him to wake up in pain," she whispered. "I do not want him to suffer alone."

Jace rested his cheek lightly against the top of her head.

"He will not be alone," he said softly. "Not with you there."

And for a while, neither of them spoke.

He simply stayed with her, holding her while her breathing slowly steadied, letting the room remain quiet except for the soft, fading sound of her tears.