CHAPTER 220: CHAPTER 220 WILL YOU BE MY......??

Leo drew in a deep breath, then gently guided her to sit on the edge of the bed. Bella blinked at him in confusion, her lashes fluttering, but before she could ask what he was doing, he lowered himself down onto one knee before her.

Her eyes went wide. Leonardo... kneeling?

"Isabella," he said, his voice deep but steady, his hands still holding hers. His thumb brushed lightly against her knuckles, the warmth of his touch making her heart skip. "I know... we’re strangers to each other, even after marriage."

She swallowed, her head dipping in a small nod. It was true.

His gaze softened, though his jaw stayed tight, as though it cost him something to admit it. "I want to change that," he continued, his voice low but earnest. "If we’re living in the same room, under the same roof... then I don’t want distance between us." He paused, searching her face, then said slowly, "Will you be my friend?"

The sincerity in his words, the way his tall frame bent down before her—it made Bella’s chest tighten. His large hands wrapped around hers, her smaller fingers nearly lost in his grasp, and the way his storm-gray eyes looked at her, so full of anticipation, so raw, made her cheeks warm.

Leo bit his lip faintly, unable to hide the tension of waiting for her answer.

Bella puffed out her cheeks, narrowing her eyes. "No."

For a moment, his heart sank. His eyes darkened, as though her simple word had struck him harder than he expected.

But before he could speak, she leaned a little closer, her lips curving into a stubborn pout. "You have to earn my friendship," she said, her tone firm, though her cheeks glowed pink.

Leo stared at her for a long second, then a quiet laugh escaped him. His head lowered slightly as his lips curved into something halfway between amused and challenged.

"Earn it, huh?" he murmured, his eyes flashing as he looked back up at her. "Then get ready, Isabella. I’ll make sure you don’t just call me your friend... but your best one."

The way he said it, smooth yet determined, made her heart skip again.

"We will see," Bella said firmly, her lips curving into the tiniest pout. Then she pressed her small hand against his shoulder. "Stand up."

Leo didn’t move. He just raised a brow, his gray eyes glinting with amusement.

Bella frowned and pushed harder, her cheeks turning red from the effort. "Hey... I said stand up!"

He stayed perfectly still, as if he weighed a mountain. Watching her little hands try so hard, watching the way her face grew pinker and her lips pressed together in concentration—it made something warm stir in his chest.

And then, unexpectedly, he chuckled. A low, deep sound that rumbled from his chest and sent a strange shiver down Bella’s spine.

Her eyes flew up to him, wide and indignant. "Y-you’re laughing at me!" she accused.

His lips curved into a smirk as he finally rose to his full height, towering over her. "Maybe," he murmured, his voice dropping slightly as his gaze lingered on her flustered expression. "But only because you’re cute when you’re bossy."

Bella’s cheeks flamed even redder. She huffed, crossing her arms as she looked away. "You’re ridiculous."

Leo tilted his head, his smile fading into something softer. "Maybe. But I’ll earn it," he said simply, his voice low and certain, before brushing a strand of her hair back behind her ear.

Her heart thumped at the small gesture, her eyes flicking back to him, caught in the warmth of his gaze.

"You’re heavy," she muttered, puffing out her cheeks in frustration as she thought about how she hadn’t been able to lift him even a little.

Leo tilted his head, his lips curving faintly. "No," he said, a low chuckle escaping him, "it’s because you’re tiny."

Bella’s eyes widened, and her blush deepened. "I-I’m not that tiny!" she protested, her voice rising a pitch.

"Yes, you are." His gaze swept her from head to toe, slow and deliberate, lingering on the smallness of her hands still balled into little fists, the delicate slope of her shoulders. "You couldn’t even move me an inch. You fit in my hands, Isabella." His voice lowered at the last words, rich and smooth, and it sent butterflies tumbling in her stomach.

Her lips parted slightly as she blinked up at him. "Th-that’s because... you’re a giant," she stammered, trying to recover. "Anyone would look small next to you."

Leo leaned closer, his shadow falling over her as his voice brushed against her ears. "Not anyone," he said slowly, his breath warm. "Only you."

Her face went crimson, and she quickly turned her head away. "You—you’re saying strange things again!"

He chuckled softly, straightening, but his eyes never left her. "Is it strange? Or just true?"

Bella swallowed, her heart hammering. "Y-you’re just trying to tease me."

"Maybe," Leo admitted, though his gaze softened as he looked down at her. "But it doesn’t change the fact that you’re... small. Soft. Easy to hold." His eyes lingered on her lips for the briefest second before flicking back to her eyes. "And I like that."

Bella huffed, ignoring him entirely as she climbed onto the bed. She flopped down with her back against the headboard, clutching Snowball tightly against her chest, her lips pressed into a pout. Her big brown eyes glared at Leo with all the force she could muster, but instead of scaring him, it only made her look unbearably cute.

Leo’s gaze lingered on her, a heat curling low in his chest. She looked like a sulking kitten trying to be fierce, and the urge to tease her grew stronger by the second.

So, without a word, he circled around the bed and casually leaned down—snatching her other plushie, Moonbeam, right out of its spot.

"Hey!" Bella gasped, sitting up straighter, her mouth falling open. "Don’t touch him!"

Leo turned Moonbeam lazily in his hand, as if examining a hostage. "Why not?" he asked, his tone smooth, his gray eyes glinting with mischief. "I’m taking this thing as tax for letting you stay in my room."

Bella’s jaw dropped. "T-tax?!" she sputtered. "That’s not fair! Snowball and Moonbeam are family!"

Leo smirked, the corner of his lips tugging upward as he dangled the plushie just out of her reach. "Then think of it as... rent. Nothing in my room is free."