When Leonardo rolled up her sleeves and gently dipped the cloth again into warm water, Isabella sat quietly, trying not to fidget. His movements were careful... almost like he was afraid of hurting her again. She never expected this side of him—the same man who used to ignore her presence was now kneeling before her, helping her clean up like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Her heart thumped so loudly, she was sure he could hear it.
When he brought the towel to her cheek and started wiping her face, Isabella’s body froze. His touch was so gentle. Like feathers brushing over her skin. But it wasn’t just the towel—it was the way his fingertips brushed close to her jaw, steady and slow.
His face moved closer.
So close that she could see every detail. The way his brows furrowed in concentration... the small scar on the edge of his lip... the way his warm breath gently brushed her face.
Isabella’s cheeks turned completely red.
She shut her eyes tightly, not knowing where to look. Don’t blush. Don’t blush...
But it was already too late.
Even the tip of her ears was turning pink.
Leonardo paused for a second, watching her silently. His eyes traced her expression, she looked so pure. So soft. Her skin flushed red like a rose petal under sunlight, and the way she tightly closed her eyes... like she was bracing herself for something much more dangerous than a simple towel on her face.
"...Why are you acting like a rabbit," he muttered under his breath, but his voice had lost the coldness. It was low... and almost amused.
"Huh?" she peeked one eye open.
"Nothing," he said quickly and handed her the towel.
Isabella took it with both hands, lowering her head to hide her expression.
But her heart?
It was already fluttering like crazy.
After he walked out, the room felt strangely quiet.
Too quiet.
Isabella stared at the door for a few seconds before lowering her gaze. Her fingers gripped the edge of the towel he had given her, still warm from his touch. She brought it slowly to her lap and placed it there... but her chest felt heavy.
Why?
Why was she feeling like this?
Just a little kindness from him and her heart was already doing somersaults. Just a soft wipe on her cheek, a careful look, a hand that helped her roll up her sleeves... and suddenly she couldn’t breathe properly.
Stop it, Isabella... she scolded herself inside, biting her lips.
He wasn’t someone who would ever like her. He wasn’t someone made for soft feelings and gentle romance. Leonardo was strong... intense... the kind of man who looked like he could command a whole army with just one glance.
And what about her?
She was clumsy. She laughed at silly things. She got too happy over desserts and cute socks. She was scared of injections. She cried easily. She wasn’t breathtaking like those women with perfect makeup and confidence. She didn’t even know how to sit like a lady properly sometimes.
What would a man like Leonardo ever see in her?
The thought hurt more than she expected.
She gently wiped her own face again, even though it was already clean, just to distract herself from the lump rising in her throat.
***
"Girl! How did you end up like this..." Theo looked at her with wide eyes, completely speechless as he sat beside her bed, scanning her bandaged arm.
Isabella smiled sheepishly and gave a tiny "Hehe" in response, her cheeks puffing up a little. "Sorry... I can’t take class for a week," she said softly, playing with the edge of the blanket like a guilty child.
Theo sighed, leaning back in the chair. "You’re unbelievable, Bella. I leave you alone for a day and you get yourself caught in a mafia shootout?"
She laughed nervously, then looked away, avoiding his gaze. "It wasn’t planned, you know..."
"Yeah yeah, if you’re in the mafia, this is unavoidable," Theo said with a dramatic shrug of his shoulders, as if getting shot was just part of a casual Tuesday. "You signed up for this the moment you married your cold-faced husband, sweetheart."
Isabella blinked, looking at him with wide innocent eyes. "I... I didn’t really sign up for anything."
Theo leaned forward, placing his elbow on his knee and pointing at her lightly. "Exactly! That’s what I keep saying. You, my dear Isabella, are just a cute little cookie who somehow ended up in a cage full of lions."
Isabella laughed under her breath, but it faded quickly. She stared down at her hand, fingers fiddling with the edge of the bandage. "I don’t know..." she mumbled.
Theo tilted his head. "Don’t know what?"
"I don’t know if I fit in this world. I mean, look at me—I panic, I cry, I... I just wanted a quiet life. A sweet, small bakery or something... not running from guns."
Theo’s teasing smile softened. He reached over and gently poked her forehead. "You might cry, but you’re brave too. Braver than half the guys I’ve met. You jumped in front of a sniper, Isabella. That’s not weak."
She looked up, surprised.
He added, "And you do fit in this world. Maybe not like them—cold and calculating but like you. Warm. Soft. The kind of person this world needs to balance out all the darkness."
Isabella blinked, her throat tightening a bit as she gave him a watery smile. "You always know what to say, Theo."
"I know," he smirked, flipping his hair proudly.
After Theo left, Isabella’s mood had lifted like a balloon in the sky.
She leaned back against the soft pillows with a tiny sigh, her lips curved up.
But that warm feeling didn’t last long.
Her eyes slowly moved around the guestroom. The walls were elegant, sure...cream and golden wallpaper, fancy shelves, and a pretty chandelier on the ceiling but it wasn’t her room. It didn’t have her soft Cute plushie on the bed. It didn’t have her weird alarm clock that looked like a cat. And worst of all, it didn’t have her tech stuff.
Her nose scrunched.