CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 29 TAKING ISABELLA TO A BAR

Lina arrived at the mansion next week stepping out of her luxury car with her usual grace and elegance. The staff quickly lined up to greet her but her eyes scanned the front steps until they landed on one person...Isabella.

Isabella ran down barefoot, still in her soft home dress, her face glowing with the kind of pure happiness rarely seen in this cold mansion.

"Mom!" she called out, her eyes bright like a child.

Lina, who was usually reserved and unreadable, felt something flicker in her chest. A warmth she hadn’t expected. A softness she hadn’t felt in a long time. Her eyes, always sharp and distant, softened as she opened her arms and Isabella rushed into them without hesitation.

"Careful, child," Lina chuckled, brushing back a loose strand of Isabella’s hair. "You’ll make me fall."

Isabella grinned. "I missed you!"

"I can see that," Lina replied, unable to hide the hint of a smile playing at her lips. "You’ve grown prettier since I last saw you. This house must suit you."

Isabella’s cheeks turned pink. "It’s because of you. You treat me like family."

Lina said nothing to that. Instead, she handed over a beautifully wrapped velvet box. "For you."

Isabella blinked in surprise. "A gift? For me?"

"Of course. A small gift for my daughter-in-law," Lina said smoothly. "Open it."

With trembling hands and excitement bubbling inside her, Isabella carefully untied the ribbon and lifted the lid. Her eyes widened in awe.

Inside was a delicate butterfly-shaped pendant necklace, made of pure white gold, with wings crafted from moonstone and soft blue gems. It sparkled like something out of a fairytale.

"It’s... beautiful," Isabella whispered, completely stunned. "Are you sure this is for me?"

Lina nodded, her voice low but fond. "It reminded me of you. Gentle, soft... but wings like those can fly very far."

Isabella’s eyes filled with emotion, and she threw her arms around Lina again.

"I’ll treasure it forever," she said.

And for the first time in a long time, Lina hugged someone back genuinely. This little girl might have been thrust into a world she didn’t belong to, but she was blooming just fine.

And Lina... was beginning to like her more than she ever expected.

"Cough."

The sharp sound made both Lina and Isabella turn their heads.

Leonardo stood at the entrance, his tall frame slightly leaning to one side, one hand in his pocket, the other adjusting the sleeve of his suit. His cold gray eyes were fixed on the two women—specifically on his mother, who was still embracing Isabella like a long-lost daughter.

He looked... shocked.

More than shocked...almost betrayed.

Because in his entire life, Lina Moretti had never once hugged him after he grew up.

Isabella blinked rapidly, unsure what surprised her more Leonardo’s sudden return... or the messy strands of his dark hair that made him look tired, rugged, and slightly undone. His tie was loosened, his shirt slightly wrinkled, and those dark circles under his eyes made him look dangerously exhausted. Yet somehow, it only made him more intimidating.

And... handsome.

"Y-you’re back?" Isabella stammered, taking a step back, unsure if she was supposed to smile or hide.

Leonardo’s eyes didn’t leave his mother as he walked forward. "I leave for a few months and this happens?"

Lina raised a brow. "What exactly is happening?"

"You hugging people," he said flatly. "That’s new."

Isabella coughed nervously and looked down, fiddling with the ribbon on the gift box.

Lina, unbothered, gave him a knowing smile. "Maybe you’re just not as huggable as your wife."

Leonardo scowled.

Isabella looked between the two. "Umm... should I go?"

"No," both said at the same time, then glanced at each other.

Lina gently placed her hand over Isabella’s, her fingers cool and firm. "Actually Bella..." she began with a softer tone than usual, but there was a faint edge of hesitation. "Next week... there’s an annual meeting. You’ll be attending with Leo."

Isabella blinked, tilting her head. "Meeting?" she asked innocently. "Like... a business one?"

She imagined a big table, maybe a projector, people in suits passing around papers and discussing numbers. So she gave a quick, bright nod. "Okay! I’ll come with him."

Leonardo fingers froze midway through loosening his watch, and his cold gaze flicked from his mother to his clueless wife. "You don’t even know what it is," he muttered.

Isabella frowned. "It’s a meeting, how bad can it be?"

This wasn’t just any meeting. It was a gathering where only the most powerful names in their hidden world were allowed, and every boss had to attend as a silent show of strength and their power.

That room would be filled with the most dangerous families, men and women who didn’t forgive mistakes. He had hoped to leave her out of it but now, with her officially tied to his name, she’d have to walk beside him. And any wrong move... could turn deadly.

After dinner, Leonardo stood up and told his mother and Isabella with his usual calm voice, "I’m going to freshen up," and headed upstairs. Isabella just nodded, thinking he would probably lock himself in his room again like always.

But as soon as Leonardo stepped out of the shower, a towel draped around his shoulders, his phone buzzed. It was Casper. He answered the call with a sigh.

"I know you’re back," Casper said without wasting a second. "Don’t even think about hiding."

Leonardo ran a hand through his wet hair. "I’m not in the mood."

"Too bad," Casper replied with a grin in his voice. "The guys are already waiting. You can’t keep your wife hidden forever. Bring her to the bar. Tonight."

Leonardo didn’t answer for a long second. But when he looked in the mirror, he saw his own reflection frown. If he didn’t take her now, those idiots might come uninvited anyway.

"Fine," he muttered.

"Atta boy," Casper laughed. "We’ll keep the booth ready. Let’s see what kind of women you’ve married."

Leonardo ended the call and picked up his black shirt, already regretting this decision.

***

There was a gentle knock on the door, and Isabella, still hugging her rabbit plushie, called out sleepily, "Come in..."

She always forgot to lock the door. But since it was usually just the maid who came to deliver her milk, she spoke without thinking.

Leonardo stepped inside, his hair still a little damp, sleeves rolled up, looking sharp and tired at the same time. He looked around her cozy little room...bright, warm, and nothing like his dark space. His eyes landed on her fluffy pink unicorn, the rabbit plushie she was hugging and the tiny pastel blanket covering her legs.

"You’re coming with me," he said flatly. "Change. Something decent."

Isabella blinked. "Where?"

"Out."

"I don’t want to go..." she mumbled like a child. "I want to sleep..."

Leonardo’s eyes narrowed as they slowly moved to the collection of stuffed toys sitting proudly on her bed. He walked forward with a dangerous calm and picked up her strawberry rabbit plushie.

"You have ten minutes, or I burn this," he said, holding it casually like he meant every word.

Isabella gasped, sitting up immediately, her eyes wide with horror. Nooo! Not Berry! she screamed in her mind.

"You’re mean!" she shouted internally while her lips only pouted in silence.

And just like that, she scrambled out of bed, hugging her blanket like a cape, muttering, "Monster... evil villain... bunny burner..."

Leonardo turned his back with the ghost of a smirk as he heard her shuffling around in a hurry, already picking an outfit like her life depended on it.

He didn’t say it aloud but watching her panic over a plush toy might’ve been the highlight of his day.

Isabella opened her wardrobe and stared at the clothes inside. Most were new, gifted by Lina but she wasn’t sure what to wear to a mysterious "outing" at night. She didn’t feel like dressing fancy. She was sleepy, annoyed, and still offended by the bunny-burning threat.

So, she wore what felt most comfortable: a fluffy cream sweater with a sleepy cat printed on the front, a frilly pink skirt that reached just above her knees, and white socks with little bows near the ankles. On her feet were bunny-shaped slippers because... why not? They were soft and warm.

When she walked out of the room, Leonardo stared at her like she had lost her mind.

"That?" he asked, voice low with disbelief.

"What?" she blinked innocently, hugging her tiny purse like a teddy bear. "I’m comfortable."

Leonardo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You’re going to a bar. Not a pajama party."

"Then don’t take me!" she huffed, walking ahead of him with her slippers making soft plop plop sounds on the marble floor.

He didn’t argue. Just led her to the car with that usual cold expression.

It was already 10:49 PM. The sky outside was dark, stars covered by thick clouds. Leonardo’s sleek black car was waiting, shining under the garden’s soft lights.

He opened the door for her and waited silently.

"Hmph," Isabella muttered as she climbed in.

He got in beside her, and the car pulled out of the villa gates.

Inside the car, silence stretched between them for a full minute. Then Isabella crossed her arms and whispered to herself just loud enough for him to hear, "Cold-hearted jerk..."

Leonardo raised a brow coldy. "What did you say?"