CHAPTER 211: CHAPTER 211 DISGUISE (1)

The air was cooler here, faintly smelling of cleaning fluid. She locked the stall door behind her and immediately went to work.

She locked the stall and set her shopping bags on the small metal hook before exhaling sharply.

Her handbag lay on the counter, simple and ordinary-looking, yet from inside she pulled out a second bag—a slim, foldable case she always kept hidden. It snapped open into a neat, larger bag, the perfect place to tuck away what mattered most. She slipped her tablet, phone, and cards into it carefully, hiding them in a way no one would suspect.

Then she turned to her shopping bags. Piece by piece, she pulled out the clothes she had just purchased—the black pants, the plain white T-shirt, and the trendy brown jacket.

Bella changed out of her dress and into the disguise. The fabric hugged her frame differently, making her silhouette straighter, less feminine.

Next came the chest binder she had bought at the sports shop. She winced slightly as she adjusted it, flattening her chest and curves beneath the fabric. She tugged the T-shirt back into place, checked herself in the small stall mirror, and nodded. Already, she looked sharper—her figure no longer gave her away so easily.

Finally, she pulled out the wig. She quickly tied her hair into a bun, then slipped the floppy, dark-haired cut over it, transforming her appearance in a matter of seconds.

She adjusted it carefully, tucking her strands neatly away, then sprayed a quick mist of cologne she’d bought, layering a more masculine scent over her usual sweetness.

Her reflection in the cracked mirror made her pause. For the first time, she didn’t look like Isabella. She looked like someone else entirely new—someone who could walk past Leo’s guards without raising suspicion.

She pulled out her phone, her eyes focused as she clicked a quick photo of herself. With careful edits, she adjusted the picture, changing her outfit slightly until it looked just like an ID photo.

Then she set her phone aside and pulled out her tablet. With practiced ease, she slipped into the government database, her eyes flicking across lines of code as if she were reading a familiar book. In less than ten minutes, she had built herself a brand-new ID—her photo neatly edited, her details carefully inserted, the official seal and number matching perfectly. To anyone who checked, it would look original, as if it had always existed.

After finishing the ID, she packed everything neatly into the spare bag, wiping away every trace until nothing remained to betray her. The empty shopping bags she carried outside and dropped into the large trash bin beside the stall.

Her lips curved into a nervous but proud smile. Now let’s see if your guards can keep up with me, Leo.

***

Isabella strolled through the mall’s wide corridor, her steps light and unhurried, the wig on her head slightly ruffled in a way that only added to her effortless cool. She tugged at the collar of her brown jacket, its sleeves casually pushed up to reveal her slim wrists, giving her an edge she had never carried before.

She hadn’t walked far before she noticed it. A group of teenage girls were passing by, arms full of shopping bags, laughing at something on one of their phones. Then their laughter froze. One by one, they turned their heads, their eyes going wide, a faint pink dusting their cheeks as they glanced her way.

Wait... what? Bella blinked, confused. The girls whispered to each other, one of them covering her mouth to hide a shy smile.

Woah,

Bella thought, stunned, her heart skipping a beat. They’re looking at me? No... they’re looking at this disguise.

Feeling flustered, she quickly darted into the nearest store. It turned out to be an exclusive skating shoe shop, glossy displays lining the walls, neon lights bouncing off polished floors. She walked straight to a pair that caught her eye—sleek black sneakers with hidden wheels that could be popped out at will.

"I’ll take these," she said, her voice firm but a little lower than usual, surprising even herself. The shop assistant gave a polite nod, perhaps slightly dazzled by the "young man" standing before him.

Bella tried them on right there in the shop, slipping off her simple slippers and tossing them aside without hesitation. The moment she stood, she felt taller, sharper, freer. Then, with a little push, she tested the skates. The wheels clicked out smoothly, and she glided forward, almost laughing out loud at the rush.

"It’s fun!" she whispered under her breath, her eyes sparkling as she zoomed around a small corner of the shop.

After paying, she rolled out of the store, her new shoes clattering against the marble before she found her balance and began skating down the corridor. Her jacket flared slightly with the motion, her floppy dark hair bouncing over her forehead, and the cologne she had sprayed earlier left behind a faint trail.

She had no idea how she looked to the world. To strangers, she was no longer a nervous, sweet girl but a striking young man—brown eyes glinting, posture casual yet confident, every line of her disguise making her appear naturally magnetic. Heads turned as she passed, a few more teenage girls giggling and nudging each other, whispering as if they’d just seen someone out of a magazine.

Bella, completely oblivious, grinned only for herself.

Bella rolled to a stop near the elevator, pressing the button for the ground floor. Her reflection in the sleek metal doors almost startled her—gone was the shy girl everyone knew. Instead, a sharp-jawed, floppy-haired young man stared back, his eyes lit with mischief. She straightened her jacket and grinned.

The doors slid open with a soft chime, and she skated inside, clicking the wheels back into shoe mode. As the elevator descended, she tucked her chin slightly, keeping her disguise neat and casual.

When the doors parted again on the ground floor, Bella stepped out with easy confidence, weaving through the crowd. The guards were still stationed near the entrances, scanning the area for their "lady" in her dress and slippers. None of them even spared a second glance at the handsome boy strolling past with a shopping bag dangling carelessly at his side.

Perfect, Bella thought, her heart racing with excitement.