After Leo left, Bella finally let out a breath she didn’t even know she was holding. His presence always made the room feel smaller somehow like even the air was too tense to breathe properly. She leaned back into the soft pillows and looked out the window. The sky had turned a soft orange, the sun melting into the edge of the horizon.
Evening already?
She picked up her phone, expecting at least one missed call or message from Scarlett. But there was nothing. Not even a single text.
Bella’s fingers hovered over the screen. Did she... forget me? Her chest tightened at the thought. Or maybe... she’s tired of me?
"No," Bella whispered to herself. "Scarlett’s not like that."
Still, her hand moved hesitantly as she tapped Scarlett’s contact and hit call.
Ring~
Ring~
Ring~
Finally, on the third ring, the line clicked.
"Hello? Who is speaking!!" came Scarlett’s groggy voice, followed by the sound of rustling sheets.
Bella blinked. "Scar! It’s me, Bella! How are you?"
"Oh—Bella!" Scarlett suddenly sat up straight. Her brain still foggy from sleep and barely recovered from the all-night digital war she’d waged. She’d been up until dawn exposing Alexa, dismantling her fake PR, crashing bot pages, and dodging threats from Alexa’s team. After it all, she’d passed out in bed promising herself she’d call Bella later—but then... well... sleep had won.
"I was hacking all night," Scarlett admitted, still half-asleep. "I had to fix something... ugh. Anyway, I’m so freaking stupid. I should’ve called—"
"No no, it’s fine! I understand," Bella cut in quickly, not wanting her to spiral. "I just wanted to say... he said yes. You can stay with me for a few days."
Scarlett blinked, silent for a second. Then she snorted. "Bella Bell, lying is a sin. That man looked like he’d rather adopt a cactus than have me around."
"I’m not lying!" Bella said proudly. "He actually agreed. Alexa’s gone. All his friends are gone too."
Scarlett’s smirk stretched lazily across her face. "Oh really?"
"Yes!" Bella’s voice was lighter now, but Scarlett could still sense an undercurrent... was it sadness?
The silence between them deepened for a moment.
Scarlett didn’t ask what happened yet. She knew there’d be time for that later.
"...I’m packing my bags," she said instead, already throwing off her blanket. "Tell him to prepare for chaos. Because I’m bringing my noise."
Bella giggled softly. "Okayy"
***
When Scarlett reached the villa, the sky had already deepened into a rich navy blue, the clock on her phone blinking 8:39 PM. She didn’t bother looking back at the hotel she’d just left behind—after all, she hadn’t even paid for it. That burden belonged to her ever-reliable, ever-stingy best friend: BlackKnight. The same best friend who still hadn’t returned the money he borrowed three months ago for a "server emergency."
"Tch. Hacker of the year, but can’t afford a latte," she muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes dramatically as she dragged her luggage behind her, the little wheels clicking softly against the polished stone path.
The entrance of the villa came into view, glowing with warm lights and guarded by the same stone-faced security officers from the other day. One of them—tall, dark-haired, and with the emotional range of a wall clock—stood silently as she approached. She recognized him immediately.
With a mischievous glint in her eye, she sauntered right past him, slowing her steps just enough to flash him a bold wink. "Miss me?" she asked, voice laced with playful sarcasm.
The guard didn’t even blink.
Scarlett froze mid-step. "Not even a flinch? Hmph."
She puffed her cheeks slightly in disappointment and marched forward with renewed dramatic flair, her boots clicking louder than necessary.
"No fun at all," she mumbled, "It’s like flirting with a CCTV camera."
But despite her teasing and muttering, the corners of her lips curled upward.
Scarlett rang the doorbell with the tip of her finger, holding her suitcase in the other hand. The sharp ding echoed faintly through the grand entrance.
She could already hear someone behind calling ’Leonardo...’ like she was here to commit a crime.
She scoffed under her breath.
One of the bodyguards who had glared at her earlier was now speaking quickly into a walkie-talkie, probably alerting the great and mighty Leo that the loud girl had returned.
"Really?" she muttered under her breath. "What, do they think I’ve come here to plant a bomb? I’m not that unhinged."
She adjusted the strap of her bag and rolled her eyes as she waited, lips twitching into a smirk.
"Honestly," she continued, speaking to no one in particular, "if they knew the kind of things I’ve hacked before, they’d wish I only came for tea."
She cracked her neck casually, humming a light tune, completely unbothered as if she were ringing the bell of a friend’s tiny apartment, not standing at the entrance of a high-security mafia villa.
The door opened with a quiet creak, revealing a tired-looking maid who blinked in confusion before stepping aside. Scarlett didn’t wait for an invitation. She strutted inside like she owned the place, dragging her suitcase behind her.
And there he was.
Leonardo, lounging in the living room like a stone sculpture with perfect hair—expressionless, unreadable, and, as always, looking like he charged people just for blinking near him.
"Hello!" Scarlett chirped brightly, tossing her suitcase to the side with a little spin.
A few guards stepped forward automatically to pick up her things. She glanced at them, then at Leonardo, her smile growing sharper.
"Please prepare a room for me," she said sweetly, waving her hand like a queen. "Of course, I’m not staying in Alexa’s leftover perfume cloud or any of your friends’ haunted guest rooms. Last time I was here, I noticed the room next to Bella’s was empty. Maybe I’ll take that one. Yeah—take my bags there."
The guards paused, unsure. Their eyes flicked toward Leonardo.
He gave a small, silent nod.
Scarlett smirked victoriously. "Good boys," she whispered, not even trying to hide the smugness in her voice.