CHAPTER 204: CHAPTER 204 WWW

"I can’t believe it..." Jay muttered dramatically, dragging his suitcase toward the front door as if it weighed the same as a small car. His tone was dripping with betrayal.

Bella leaned casually against the wall, arms folded, her eyes following him with a smile tugging at her lips. But when he glanced up, he froze. She was laughing. Actually laughing. Not politely. Not shyly. But really, shoulders-shaking laughing.

"Oh my god," Jay gasped in mock horror. "You’re laughing at me? My own Bella Bell? I want my old Bella back!"

Bella tilted her head, lips curling into a mischievous grin. "Your old Bella wouldn’t have gotten her sweet revenge this perfectly." She stepped forward, her voice playful. "This is what you get for teasing me."

Behind Jay, Jace rolled his suitcase like it was nothing, looking far too pleased with himself. "Oh, stop whining. Sahravine’s weather is much hotter than Melbrin’s City A. If you can’t handle a short walk to the car without looking like you just ran a marathon, you’re doomed."

Bella grinned cutely. "Good. Then you’ll appreciate the gift I arranged for you both."

Jay narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "What gift?"

"I told Mister Bodyguards to buy you hats and coconuts." Bella’s tone was too innocent to trust.

Jace raised an eyebrow. "That’s... surprisingly thoughtful."

Jay’s eyes narrowed further. "Wait. What kind of hats?"

"A nice, big one with a wide brim," Bella said sweetly. "And for you, Jay... a pink ribbon."

"What—?! I am not a child!" Jay’s voice jumped an octave. He set his suitcase down to throw his hands in the air. "And I can buy my own coconuts and hat if I want one, thank you very much!"

"Of course you can," Bella said with exaggerated patience. "It’s just that you looked like you were about to collapse from heatstroke before you even left the driveway."

Jace burst out laughing, holding his side. "She’s not wrong."

Jay muttered something under his breath about betrayal as he grabbed his suitcase again and stomped toward the door.

Bella covered her mouth to hide her laugh, watching them go. There was something so warm in this simple moment — teasing, fussing, and sending them off.

"Safe travels," she called after them, smiling despite herself.

****

From the leather chair in his study, Leonardo’s eyes stayed fixed on the large monitor mounted on the wall, streaming the security feed from the front gates. He watched as Jay and Jace’s car finally rolled down the long driveway and disappeared beyond the iron gates.

Only then did he take a slow sip of his coffee, a faint curve of satisfaction tugging at his lips. Peace—at least for now.

A soft chime from his phone drew his attention. It was a secure message from his assistant.

Assistant 8 : Sir, I’ve confirmed. The Wilson family is holding Mr. William Wilson’s 89th birthday celebration. The guest list is extensive—business leaders, politicians, and several high-profile mafia families.

Leonardo’s gaze sharpened as he scrolled through the attached file. Each name was familiar in its own way—some allies, some potential threats, some opportunities.

Another line caught his attention.

Assistant 8: Several international families will also attend. I recommend you make an appearance—it’s the perfect time to strengthen connections.

He leaned back, letting the information sink in. The Wilsons weren’t just a wealthy family; they were an old one, with influence that reached deep into both the clean and the shadowed corners of power. Leonardo had shared drinks with William Wilson more than once, back when the old man still personally managed his empire. The respect between them was mutual and that meant Leonardo wouldn’t just be another guest. He’d be welcomed as part of the inner circle.

His fingers tapped idly against the desk. This wasn’t just about showing up—it was about making a statement.

Yes... he would go. And if he played it right, it might bring more than just polite conversation and champagne.

***

Meanwhile, Bella sat cross-legged on the bed, her laptop balanced on her knees, glasses slipping a little down her nose as she typed away on one of her ongoing projects. Her little bedside lamp threw a warm pool of light across the bed.

A small smile tugged at her lips when she checked her bank app—finally, her balance had grown enough to cover what she owed Leo. In fact, she’d decided she wanted to pay him more, just to thank him for letting her stay here and... well, for taking care of her in his own grumpy, unpredictable way.

She was about to return to coding when a notification popped up in the corner of her screen.

New Message – Hackerverse

Curious, she clicked it open. Her eyes widened immediately at the figure in the offer—1,000,000. One million? For one task? That was... suspicious.

She quickly clicked into the profile. The username was simply "WWW." No photo, no personal details, only a very short profile line that read: Seeking genuine help.

Taking a deep breath, she began typing.

Bellatrix_019:Hey, sir, what kind of task do you want me to do? Sorry, but I don’t do illegal things.

The reply came almost instantly.

WWW: I don’t want you to do anything illegal.

Bella frowned slightly.

Bellatrix_019: Really? Then why are you offering me one million?

WWW: Actually... I think I’m in danger.

Her brows knitted together.

Bellatrix_019:Are you okay? Do you want my help?

WWW: Yes.

She bit her lip.

Bellatrix_019: Tell me, I’ll do it.

WWW: Actually, I’m an old man, and I want you to make security for my company.

Bellatrix_019: What kind of security, sir?

WWW: I’m building high-level tech for something important, and I want you to help me in person, to finish building it within three days if possible.

Bella hesitated, staring at the blinking cursor.

Bellatrix_019: But sir...

WWW: Don’t worry, I know hackers are mysterious. You can come in disguise.

She exhaled slowly, her fingers tapping lightly on the keys.

Bellatrix_019: Alright... how about tomorrow?

WWW: Alright! Thank you, dear! I’ll give you another million for your help.

Bella shook her head quickly, typing back.

Bellatrix_019: No need, sir. I won’t take extra.

As she hit send, she leaned back against the headboard, chewing lightly on her lip. Something about this felt unusual. She had a good feeling the "WWW" wasn’t just some random old man but if he really was in danger, she couldn’t just ignore it.