CHAPTER 229: CHAPTER 229 BONUS

Next morning...

Bella stirred awake, her lashes fluttering as she sat up with a big yawn, her hair a messy halo around her face. She rubbed her eyes and sat there for a few minutes, debating if she should crawl back under the blanket. Sleep still tugged at her, and half-dreaming, she reached her hand out lazily, patting the sheets in search of her Snowball.

But her fingers met nothing but cool fabric.

"Huh?" Bella blinked groggily, sitting up straighter, her eyes darting around the bed. No Snowball. No Moonbeam. No berry.

Her eyes went wide. "W-what??" she gasped, scanning the room in panic. Finally, she spotted them—every single one of her babies piled unceremoniously on the couch like abandoned potatoes.

She clutched her chest dramatically. I didn’t put them there...!

Her mouth opened in disbelief, and just then, the bathroom door clicked open. Out came Leo, freshly showered, his damp hair combed back, a black shirt clinging to his tall frame. He walked calmly toward the vanity, picking up his perfume, as if he hadn’t just committed plushie-murder in the middle of the night.

Bella puffed her cheeks angrily and marched toward him, her bare feet making soft thuds on the floor. "Did you throw my babies on the couch?" she demanded, pointing an accusing finger at him.

Leo glanced at her in the mirror, his brows raising slightly as if the question was beneath him. "Why would I?" he asked smoothly, spraying the cologne against his neck.

"Because you don’t like them!" Bella huffed, crossing her arms, her eyes flashing with righteous fury. "You always threaten to burn them!"

Leo finally turned, his gray eyes locking on her sulking face. A slow smirk curved on his lips. "Bella," he said, lowering his voice just enough to make her stomach flip, "if I truly wanted to burn them, they wouldn’t be sitting safely on that couch, would they?"

Her mouth fell open, her cheeks burning. "You—you meanie!!" she squeaked, stomping her foot, then quickly ran to rescue her plushies, hugging them to her chest protectively.

Behind her, Leo let out a low chuckle, his eyes lingering on the sight of her pouting with her arms full of toys. "So dramatic," he murmured under his breath, shaking his head—but his smile betrayed him.

After Bella got ready, she sat across from Leo at the breakfast table, nervously tapping her spoon against her plate. "When is your grandmother coming?" she asked curiously, her honey-brown eyes wide with anticipation.

Leo paused, his hand stilling on his coffee cup. "She didn’t tell me," he replied, his tone calm but firm. "She can come anytime. She doesn’t like people waiting for her."

Bella’s mouth shaped into a small "O" her curiosity growing even more. "Ohhh... so mysterious," she muttered, nodding as if trying to memorize the rulebook of grandmothers.

Leo gave her a brief glance, the corner of his lips twitching, then went back to his meal. After breakfast, he left for work, and Bella returned upstairs, her energy bubbling again. On the third floor, she sat cross-legged in front of her laptop, the shadow server glowing across her screen. Her fingers moved eagerly over the keys as she re-checked the code, heart racing with the thrill of working on something so big.

Just then, her phone rang. She instantly brightened, snatching it up. "Hello, Scar!!" she said happily, her voice carrying a smile.

"Hey, Bella! How are you doing!" Scarlett’s strong, confident tone poured through the speaker like sunshine, instantly filling Bella’s chest with warmth.

"I’m alone!" Bella answered cheerfully. "And I was working on that big project I told you about!" she added, her voice proud and excited, almost like a child showing a star sticker on her homework.

Scarlett chuckled, her voice rich. "I am so proud of you, Bella. You’re growing fast." Then her tone softened into a tired sigh. "Honestly, maybe I should come to see you. But it’s been messy here... our boss changed all of a sudden, and I’ve had so much responsibility dumped on me."

Bella’s brows furrowed with concern. "Scar, it’s okay. We can meet anytime. But your job is first priority!" she said firmly, her small voice surprisingly strong.

Scarlett smiled faintly on the other end, touched. "Haha... Bella, if I were there, I would’ve squished you already in my arms!" she teased, her laugh warm and queen-like.

Bella’s cheeks reddened, her lips curving shyly. "Scarlett..."

"I’ll tell you more details tonight," Scarlett promised, her voice regaining its energy.

"Okay! Tonight then!" Bella said quickly, and both of them laughed before hanging up.

As the screen dimmed, Bella hugged her phone against her chest, her heart lighter. She felt stronger just hearing Scarlett’s voice as if she had someone who believed in her no matter what.

****

Meanwhile, in the quiet of his office, Leo leaned back in his chair as Jeffery’s voice came through the secure line.

"Good news, sir!" Jeffery said, excitement bubbling in his tone. "I’ve already deciphered the whole Willd code language. Maybe within two days, you’ll be able to trace that hacker."

Leo’s gray eyes sharpened, a flicker of something dangerous and eager flashing in them. He set down the glass of whiskey he had been holding and leaned forward. "Good. Very good, Jeff. You deserve a bonus," he said, his voice low but sincere.

There was a pause, then Jeffery laughed awkwardly. "Sir, there’s no need, really... but if you’re giving it with your whole heart, I’ll definitely accept the bonus!" His tone shifted instantly, playful, sly, as though he couldn’t resist milking the moment.

Leo’s lips pressed into a thin line, and he stared at the phone in silence for a beat. His hacker’s words carried two tones at once—one eager and hardworking, the other duplicitous and self-serving.

"...Jeffery," Leo finally said, his tone calm but dangerous, "one day, that double tongue of yours is going to get you killed."

Jeffery coughed nervously on the other side. "A-ah, sir, it’s just my way of joking... You know me, loyal to the bone."

Leo smirked faintly, though his eyes stayed cold. "Hn. Just remember, I reward loyalty, not comedy."

"Yes, sir," Jeffery said quickly, his voice now respectful and sharp again. "I’ll send you an update report tonight. By tomorrow, I’ll have a clearer trail of the hacker’s origin."

Leo leaned back once more, tapping his fingers against the armrest. "Two days," he repeated, his voice final.

"Yes, sir!"

The line went dead.

Leo stayed still for a moment, staring at the black screen of his phone. The anticipation coiled in his chest, dark and hungry.