CHAPTER 176: CHAPTER 176 ALEXA WEDDING (2)

The wedding venue stood like something out of a fairytale.

It was a beautiful countryside estate, surrounded by gentle green hills and golden sunlight. The garden was filled with fresh white roses and peach-colored tulips, matching the soft wedding theme. Fairy lights were wrapped around tall trees, even though it was still morning, ready to glow as evening fell.

A large white canopy tent was set in the center of the lawn, fluttering gently in the breeze. Silver chairs were lined up in neat rows, all facing a small flower-covered arch that looked like it had been made by magic.

Everything smelled like grass, roses, and celebration.

Bella stepped out of the car slowly, holding her hand bag and blinking at the scene.

"Wow..."

Jay grinned beside her. "I told you it’d be pretty."

Leo stepped out next, adjusting his suit sleeves again.

But Bella didn’t look at him.

She was still busy pretending he didn’t exist.

Even though her heart had definitely noticed his silence the entire ride.

When they walked inside the venue, the atmosphere was already full of warmth and laughter.

Most of the guests had already arrived—some were standing and chatting, their glasses raised in light toasts, while others sat comfortably on the white chairs, admiring the garden setup and softly murmuring about how beautiful the place looked.

There was music playing in the background—soft, classical, and dreamy and the whole space felt like a live painting in motion.

Reyna DeLuna and her husband, Emilio, were greeting guests with bright smiles and warm hugs. Reyna wore a soft lavender gown, her hair tied in a loose bun that framed her face gently, while Emilio stood beside her in a crisp navy suit, tall and cheerful, his presence radiating quiet warmth.

Bella’s face lit up the moment she spotted Lina and Alessandro. Lina smiled warmly and gave her a gentle wave, while Alessandro stood beside her with his arms crossed, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Bella grinned and waved back, her heart filling with a quiet warmth that made everything around her feel just a little brighter.

Just then, Reyna came over with her usual elegant stride, holding a champagne flute in one hand and that sparkle in her eyes.

"Haha! Leo, Jay! How are you both?" she asked brightly. Then her eyes landed on Bella, and her expression softened with curiosity.

"And who might this lovely young lady be?"

Jay didn’t hesitate. "She’s Isabella. My brother’s wife," he said proudly, nudging Leo with his elbow and grinning.

Reyna’s eyes widened a little before her lips curved into a soft smile. "Such a beautiful young lady," she said warmly.

Bella gave a polite smile and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Thank you, ma’am," she said softly.

Reyna’s smile widened a little. Polite, elegant... and adorable, she thought, then turned to greet another guest with a gentle wave.

Then, suddenly, the buzz of the room shifted.

The guests’ attention slowly drifted toward the side of the venue—toward a tall man entering from the door.

The groom had arrived.

He wore a white tailored suit, neat and perfect, fitting him like a dream. His dark hair was styled back smoothly, his skin pale against the light fabric, and his cold blue eyes seemed to scan the room with quiet control. He wasn’t smiling. But his stillness made him stand out even more.

Bella blinked.

Her eyes followed him.

Wow... he’s really handsome.

Leo, standing beside her, narrowed his eyes.

He turned his head slightly and followed her line of sight.

His expression didn’t change.

But something cold flickered in his eyes.

Bella, meanwhile, wasn’t even thinking about the groom anymore. Her mind had wandered.

Leo wore black on our wedding day too... and he didn’t even look at me properly! So serious! So robotic! He didn’t even say I looked pretty! Hmph!

She frowned slightly, remembering that day and continued to stare at the groom without realizing her lips had pouted.

Leo’s jaw tightened.

Jay raised his brows behind them, leaning toward Leo and whispering, "You’re gonna lose your wife to the groom at this rate."

Leo didn’t answer.

Finally, after several minutes of watching her wide eyes fixed on the groom like she’d never seen a handsome man before, Leonardo’s patience snapped.

His jaw clenched. His fingers twitched.

And without warning, he stepped closer and grabbed her arm—firm, possessive, and sharp enough to pull her out of her daze.

Bella blinked rapidly, eyes going wide as she snapped out of her trance.

"H-Hey!" she gasped, stumbling slightly from the sudden tug. "Let go of my arm!"

She glared up at him, her heart thudding, cheeks already pink from the embarrassment of being yanked like that in front of people. "Why are you touching me like that all of a sudden?! Ugh! That’s all you know! Devil man!"

Leo didn’t flinch.

Instead, he leaned down, just slightly, enough that his breath brushed her ear and his voice dropped into that cold, quiet tone that made her heart skip without permission.

"I don’t want people thinking my wife was standing there staring at another man like she doesn’t know who she belongs to."

Bella froze.

What??

She turned to look at him, confused and flushed, her voice stuck in her throat. "W-What are you talking about...?"

But Leo had already straightened up again, cool and composed, his hand now gently slipping around her waist—as if the sudden grab hadn’t happened at all.

Before she could argue further, a small group of guests approached.

"Oh, Mr. Moretti! So glad...."

And just like that, Leo’s coldness shifted into polite elegance. He nodded calmly, his hand still resting possessively around Bella’s waist like it belonged there.

Bella was too shocked to move.

She tried to smile along, standing beside him like a polite little wife, but inside her brain was chaos.

What did he mean? Was he... was he jealous? Wait. Was that a warning? Why did he whisper like that? Why does his hand feel warm??!

One by one, guests came to greet him—some shaking his hand, others offering congratulations for various business achievements. Bella stood beside him, nodding, smiling, laughing when needed.

And after a while... her lips started to ache.

She massaged her cheeks secretly while smiling at another lady. Why am I smiling so much? My face hurts. My soul hurts. Why am I pretending to be normal while he holds my waist like this?!

Leo, as always, remained unreadable.

But the faintest smirk kept threatening to curl at the corner of his lips whenever she shifted slightly under his hold.