CHAPTER 347: CHAPTER 347 HE KNOWS

Bella’s expression froze for a heartbeat. Jay’s tone had that suspicious sharpness that always made her nervous, and the way his eyes narrowed told her she wasn’t getting out of this easily. She looked at Jace for silent help, but even he just gave her that helpless little half-smile, as if to say, you’re on your own this time, Bella.

"I–I..." she stammered, trying to think of something convincing, but her voice trailed off uselessly.

Jay tilted his head, arms folded like a detective about to deliver judgment. "Bella Bell, are you lying to me?"

Before she could answer, a low, calm voice came from behind her. "No. She’s not."

All three of them turned. Leo had somehow appeared behind Bella, one hand in his pocket, the other slipping around her waist in a casual side hug that made her jump. His shirt sleeves were rolled to the elbows, veins showing lightly on his forearms, his eyes unreadable but faintly amused.

"Bro...?" Jay blinked, completely thrown. "But Bella Bell told me she was with Scarlett!"

Leo’s lips curved into a slow smirk. "I told her to say that," he replied evenly. "Because I didn’t want you to know we were on a date. Happy now?"

"A... a date?" Jay repeated, his mouth dropping open in disbelief.

"Yes," Leo said with absolute calm, tightening his arm around Bella as he leaned down and murmured near her ear, "And it was perfect, wasn’t it, Bunny?"

Bella’s face turned crimson. "L-Leo!" she whispered, embarrassed beyond words.

Jay’s eyes widened in shock, while Jace just rubbed his temple, clearly trying not to laugh. "Well," Jace said, exhaling softly, "I guess that answers where she was."

But Leo wasn’t done. He looked straight at Jay, his gaze cool but possessive. "Now, can we move on? Or do you want me to give you details too?"

"NO!" Jay yelped instantly, flailing his hands. "No details, I’m good! Totally good! Oh my god—ugh, my pure ears!" He dramatically covered them and stomped toward the kitchen.

Jace just laughed quietly as Leo guided Bella toward the stairs, her face still buried in her hands.

"Th-thank you..." Bella murmured softly, her voice barely louder than a whisper.

Leo didn’t answer. He just kept that calm, unreadable look as he held her close with one arm draped firmly around her shoulders. His hand rested on her upper arm, guiding her as they walked side by side toward the staircase.

Each step echoed faintly in the quiet corridor, their footsteps in sync. The soft light from the wall sconces brushed against his sharp jawline, making him look even more effortlessly composed, while Bella tried her best not to trip under the weight of her own racing heartbeat.

She glanced up once, hoping to catch some clue from his expression, but his eyes were fixed ahead, cold, unreadable, almost teasing in their calm. That faint smirk tugging at his lips made her even more nervous.

When they finally reached the third floor, he slowed down, letting her go gently. His arm slipped away, leaving her side feeling strangely cold.

And just as she turned toward her room, thinking the silence between them was finally over, his deep voice broke through the stillness, smooth, casual and edged with amusement.

"No problem... Isaac," he said, that last word rolling off his tongue like a secret he’d known all along.

Bella froze mid-step. Her eyes went wide, her breath caught in her throat, and she turned toward him in disbelief.

But Leo had already walked ahead, relaxed, confident, and pushed open the door to his room where he made miniature models. He disappeared inside, leaving her standing there like a statue, her mouth slightly open.

He knows? her thoughts screamed.

Her heart pounded wildly. "He... he called me Isaac..." she whispered, her face burning.

Then she heard faint sounds from his workroom, the soft clatter of tiny tools, the metallic click of parts coming together. He was calmly working on his miniature models as if he hadn’t just turned her entire world upside down with a single smirk.

Bella stood there for a moment, stunned and breathless, her heart still racing from the memory of that teasing smirk. Then, unable to hold it in any longer, she stormed into their bedroom, dumped her bag on the couch, and spun toward the door of his model room.

"LEO!" she called, her voice rising in both anger and disbelief.

The door was half-open, and the warm golden light spilling from inside revealed him standing near a wide worktable. He was holding a sheet of paper in one hand—a blueprint, she realized—and a few metallic parts in the other. His sleeves were rolled up, the faint gleam of his wristwatch catching the light as he worked.

He looked maddeningly calm, perfectly focused, and somehow far too attractive for a man who had just turned her life into chaos. The soft lamplight brushed along his jawline, highlighting his features in a way that made her heart thump harder, annoyingly so.

"Leo!!" she called again, stomping inside, her voice full of outrage and confusion.

He lifted his head lazily, dark gray eyes meeting hers with quiet amusement. "What’s wrong, Bunny? Why are you shouting like a hungry bird?" His tone was smooth, teasing, and entirely unbothered.

"You know?!" she demanded, her hands balled into tiny fists.

He blinked once, tilting his head with an almost innocent expression. "Know what?"

Bella glared at him furiously, her cheeks puffed like an angry kitten, but before she could launch her next attack, her attention snagged on something beside him.

On the table, amid metal scraps, brushes, and scattered sketches, stood a miniature house. It was small and delicate, with pink walls and little white windows, decorated so beautifully it looked almost real.

Her anger melted into awe in an instant. "You... made this?" she whispered, stepping closer without even realizing.

Leo chuckled under his breath, watching her expression soften as she bent to look at the details. "Mm. The roof’s still drying," he said quietly, turning another small tool in his hand. "You like it?"

Bella nodded dreamily, still staring at the tiny pastel-colored house, her irritation momentarily forgotten.