CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37 SHE’S TOO PRECIOUS

She gently pushed her laptop aside, stretched a little, and only then looked down at her hands.

Her breath caught.

Her small hands usually soft and pale were now flushed with red, her fingertips slightly swollen and pink from hours of non-stop typing.

She winced a little and whispered, "Oh no..."

She gently placed her hands over Berry and Moonbeam, resting them for just a moment on the soft plush fur.

"Good job, me..." she said quietly, trying to smile.

Then she stood up slowly and made her way toward the dining room, her steps tired but her spirit light.

She may have overworked herself.

Leonardo still hadn’t come home again. His dinner plate remained untouched, and the seat at the head of the table sat cold and quiet, as always.

Isabella poked at her food softly, resting her cheek against her hand.

Why does he work so much? she wondered silently. He already has a huge house, maids, fancy cars... and his scary but elegant mom.

Her gaze drifted toward the open window, where the garden lights glowed softly.

If I had all that money, she thought, I wouldn’t be running around in suits and meetings.

Her lips curved into a soft pout as she imagined a completely different life.

If I become a big girl one day... like a truly grown-up woman, I’ll build a tiny cottage in the mountains or somewhere green with lots of trees. I’ll have flowers in the window, a little herb garden, and cats curled up on sunny cushions. Maybe even a lazy dog with fluffy ears who follows me everywhere.

She smiled to herself, eyes distant.

And if I really grow strong enough... I’ll adopt little kids. Maybe just one or two. The ones who need love. I’ll be the kind of mom I always dreamed of... the soft kind. Who cooks with them and tells bedtime stories...

The thought wrapped around her heart like a warm blanket.

Because now I’m free, she reminded herself. I can do all of this, one step at a time.

After dinner, she wandered into the garden. The breeze was cool against her cheeks, the flowers blooming under the silver moonlight. She stopped to sniff a white rose, her fingers gently brushing its petals.

Later, after changing into her favorite cozy pajamas, she settled onto the big living room couch with Berry and Moonbeam tucked beside her. Cartoons played softly on the wide TV. It was familiar. Safe.

A elder maid walked by and paused with a curious smile. "Miss Isabella," she asked kindly, "don’t you ever watch movies?"

Isabella turned to look at her, blinking.

She hesitated for a second, then smiled a little.

"I... haven’t really watched any," she said honestly. Her fingers played with the corner of her blanket. Back then... uncle didn’t like it. Said movies were too long. He could come home anytime, so I never dared.

That part stayed in her heart.

Aloud, she simply added, "Cartoons were easier. Safer. I guess I just stuck with them."

The maid’s expression softened.

Isabella tilted her head, curious. "But... I kinda want to try one. Do you know any good movies I should watch?"

The maid lit up. "Of course, miss. I’ll find something sweet. Something light."

And Isabella’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

As the maid stood beside her, remote in hand, browsing through the movie options, Isabella sat cross-legged on the couch, hugging a pillow with wide, curious eyes.

The screen displayed rows and rows of colorful movie posters, most of them with couples either hugging, gazing into each other’s eyes... or kissing.

Isabella’s face began to warm up instantly.

Then the maid, thinking she might like something romantic and sweet, hovered over a popular love story and clicked to show the trailer. The very first scene? A couple kissing under the rain.

Isabella’s entire face turned bright red.

Her eyes widened. "N-No! I don’t want to watch adult movies!" she blurted, shaking her head furiously like a flustered rabbit. "No kissing! Too much kissing!"

The maid blinked, staring at her speechlessly.

"Huh?"

Isabella covered her cheeks with both hands. "I-I’ve never seen that much... touching in cartoons!"

The maid tried not to laugh. "Miss... this is just a romance movie."

"But it’s so adult!" Isabella whispered, clearly horrified and embarrassed. "I’m not ready for that kind of story. What if someone comes in while I’m watching and thinks I watch weird things?"

The maid blinked again... and finally burst into a soft chuckle. "Alright, alright. No kissing. Got it."

She quickly scrolled to a more wholesome category. "Let’s find something with animals and magic instead, hmm?"

Isabella nodded quickly, still hiding half her face behind her pillow.

The maid couldn’t help but smile as she watched Isabella sitting there like a flustered cartoon character—eyes wide, cheeks puffed and red, clutching her pillow like it was her only shield against the scandalous world of romance movies.

She gently scrolled through more titles, trying to find something safe and sweet... but her fingers, maybe on purpose, maybe not, "accidentally" clicked on another romantic movie.

And boom—another poster of a couple kissing under fairy lights filled the screen.

Isabella gasped. "A-again?!"

Her cheeks turned even redder, her eyes darting around like someone might catch her watching. "Why are they always kissing?" she mumbled under her breath, burying half her face into the pillow. "Can’t people just talk and drink tea or something?"

The maid bit her lip, trying so hard not to laugh.

Oh, dear... she’s too precious.

She looked at Isabella’s glowing pink cheeks and thought, I just want to squeeze them!

Out loud, she said gently, "Oops... I clicked the wrong one."

But in her heart, she was chuckling hard.

If she turns this red from a movie kiss, how will she ever survive the real thing with Master Leonardo?

The thought made her giggle silently. Poor girl doesn’t even know she’s married to the coldest, most dangerously handsome man in the city.

This is going to be fun to watch.

Finally, after thoroughly enjoying Isabella’s adorably flustered reactions, the maid decided to stop teasing her.

Alright, alright. I’ve had my fun, she thought, her lips twitching with amusement as she glanced at the girl still hiding behind a pillow, peeking at the screen like it was cursed.

With a small chuckle, the maid scrolled away from the sea of romantic posters and carefully selected a lighthearted animated movie—one with adventure, laughter, talking animals, and zero kissing.

"There," she said gently. "This one’s safe. No romance, just fun and magic."

Isabella slowly peeked out from behind her pillow, her red cheeks still glowing but her eyes filled with cautious hope. "Really? No kissing? No sudden hugs?"

"Promise," the maid nodded, smiling warmly.

Relieved, Isabella let out a soft breath and settled into the couch with her plushie on one side and a bowl of warm popcorn on the other which was given by another maid.

As the opening scene played, her lips curved into a small, peaceful smile.

By the time the movie neared its end, the cozy living room had fallen completely quiet.

The soft glow of the screen cast a warm light across Isabella’s face, her long lashes resting gently against her cheeks. Her head had slowly tilted to the side, resting on her strawberry bunny plushie. One hand still held the half-empty popcorn bowl, now resting on her lap.

The movie’s gentle music played in the background as the credits began to roll.

But Isabella... was fast asleep.

Her tiny frame was curled into the corner of the couch, blanket draped loosely over her legs, her breathing soft and even. The excitement of the day—the guitar lesson, her little shop work, chatting with her online friends, and her very first movie had finally caught up with her.

The maid peeked in from the hallway, ready to clean up, but paused at the sight.

A warm smile spread across her lips.

She quietly tiptoed in, took the popcorn bowl from Isabella’s lap, and gently pulled the blanket up to her shoulders.

"Sweet dreams, little miss," she whispered, brushing a few strands of hair from Isabella’s face.

It was 2 a.m. when Leonardo finally stepped inside the mansion.

The house was silent, the kind of heavy silence only late night could bring. Outside, the guards stood at their posts, alert but quiet. Inside, not a soul stirred. Just the soft hum of the air conditioning.

Leonardo ran a hand through his messy dark hair, pushing it back, revealing his sharp, exhausted face. His black shirt clung perfectly to his frame, sleeves rolled just enough to show the veined strength of his forearms, the fit hugging his chest and shoulders like second skin. Paired with his matching pants and a pistol casually tucked into the back of his waistband, he looked like a storm that hadn’t quite passed yet.

He walked into the kitchen without a word.

With a practiced motion, he opened the fridge, grabbed a cold can of beer, and popped it open. The sharp hiss of carbonation broke the silence. He raised it to his lips, his Adam’s apple moving with each gulp as he drank deeply, his other hand resting on the counter, palm flat, veins flexed.

His eyes were heavy, tired from meetings, threats, late-night deals, and miles of travel. Yet his mind, as always, was wide awake.

As he finished half the can in one go, he tilted his head back slightly, breathing out slowly, jaw tight.