CHAPTER 268: CHAPTER 268 HE IS LEAVING

Regret.

That was the word echoing in Leo’s mind. Ever since he had given Bella her own dream room, she had spent more time there than by his side. He had thought it would make her happy, and it did, but now he found himself glancing toward that room far too often, waiting to hear her laughter or the soft patter of her footsteps returning.

It had only been a day. Perhaps tomorrow she would grow tired of it, he reassured himself. Yet deep down, he loved how she had grown closer to him, how she had stopped being so guarded. That treehouse, the shelves of plushies, the glowing lights around her desk, they had made her smile at him as if he had given her the world.

Meanwhile, Bella was completely overjoyed. She spent hours curled up in her chair, tapping away at her keyboard with serious focus. The chair itself was a secret treasure. On the left side there was a small button Leo had never mentioned. A single press would activate the massage function, and if she leaned back, the chair would melt her into bliss.

And tomorrow Scarlett would arrive. Bella could barely contain her excitement, already planning what she would do with her friend, what she wanted to show her, and even what they might eat together.

Leo’s heart, however, was heavy.

That night, when Bella finally returned to their room, she found him sitting at the edge of the bed. His jaw was tight, his shoulders rigid, and his expression unreadable. She paused in the doorway, tilting her head gently.

"Leo?" she asked softly.

His gray eyes lifted to hers, lingering for a long moment before he sighed. "I want to say something."

Bella blinked, stepping closer, her dress brushing her ankles. "What happened?" she asked, her voice carrying a note of worry.

"I need to leave tomorrow. For work." His voice was deep and controlled, but a flicker of unknown emotion passed through his eyes.

Bella’s own eyes widened, her stomach dropping. "Leave? How long?" she whispered.

"Maybe two weeks."

The sadness that washed over her face struck him harder than he expected. Two weeks. She had grown so used to his presence that the thought of him being gone unsettled her deeply.

She swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she pouted. "Please don’t go."

His jaw clenched, his gray eyes darkening. Every part of him wanted to give in, to stay, to keep her close, but he could not. Not with Pablo moving in the shadows, not with spies circling their every move. His silence stretched, heavy and suffocating, before he finally shook his head.

"It’s important, Bella," he said firmly, though his tone carried regret. Softer now, almost tender, he added, "Do you want me to bring you a gift?"

Bella shook her head quickly, her eyes glistening. "Nothing," she muttered, lips pressed into a pout. Without waiting for his reply, she turned away, slipped into the shower, and later curled into bed silently.

Leo sat back, running a hand through his hair with a long sigh.

She was impossibly cute, impossibly soft. Every pout, every frown pulled him in deeper, made him question his choices. He should not want to stay, not when Pablo was his priority, but he did.

Yet catching Pablo mattered more.

So, as Bella drifted into restless sleep, Leo sat in the dark, his deep gray eyes holding an unreadable expression.

He had doubled the security around the house, and if Bella wished to go out and meet her friend, she would be followed by hidden guards.

****

The morning light poured through the curtains as Leo placed his black suitcase on the floor and began to pack his shirts.

But when he turned, he froze.

Bella was sitting inside his open suitcase, cross-legged, her chin resting stubbornly on her hand as her wide eyes glared up at him with the most determined pout he had ever seen.

"Bella," his voice dropped low, equal parts amusement and disbelief. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Blocking you," she said simply, lifting her chin higher. "You’re not allowed to go."

The corner of his lips twitched, though his eyes darkened as he stepped closer, towering over her small figure curled inside his luggage. "Blocking me? You think I can’t just close this suitcase and take you along?" His tone was teasing, but the deep rumble in his voice carried enough heat to make her ears burn.

Her pout only deepened. "Then do it. Pack me. I won’t mind."

For a long moment, Leo just stared, his jaw tight as he fought the smirk threatening to escape. Then he leaned down, his hand pressing against the edge of the suitcase near her thigh. His face came so close that she could feel his breath.

"Careful, little bunny," he whispered, his voice velvet and dangerous. "If I really pack you, I won’t be checking you in as luggage. I’ll be keeping you all to myself."

Bella’s cheeks flamed crimson as she smacked his chest lightly. "You’re so shameless."

His low chuckle filled the room, rich and husky. Without warning, he scooped her up out of the suitcase and set her gently on the bed. His arms lingered around her waist, holding her in place as he studied her stubborn pout.

"Don’t worry," he said softly, brushing his thumb across her lips. "I’ll come back sooner than you think. But next time you sit in my suitcase..." his gray eyes gleamed, "...I might not let you out."

Bella buried her face in her hands, whining softly. "You’re the worst."

His smirk only deepened. Turning back to his suitcase, his voice drifted back to her, smooth and confident.

"Wrong, Bella. I’m the best, and you know it."

****

Bella stood near the entrance, her hands clenched together, as she watched Leo step into the waiting car. His tall figure looked even more distant as the door closed, and the convoy of black vehicles pulled out of the driveway.

A hollow ache pressed at her chest. She didn’t like this heavy silence that fell the moment he left. For the last few days she had gotten used to his presence, his unpredictable moods, and even his teasing remarks. Now the mansion felt too big, too empty.

She bit her lip, and slowly, her mind began to turn. If Leo was away, it meant less restriction, fewer watchful eyes. It meant she could finally move more freely. And there was one place she had been dying to go—William sir’s company.