His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.

Chapter 779 Stressed

"No," Winter said, her voice low and smooth. "I don’t think you are."

She handed Bella the tablet.

Bella looked at the screen. The project was ambitious. Robots designed to assist in patient care, to help with physical therapy and rehabilitation, to provide companionship to those who were isolated, who had no one to talk to, who spent their days alone in hospital rooms waiting for visitors who never came. The timeline was aggressive, the goals were lofty, and the challenges were significant.

Bella’s heart beat faster.

She wanted this.

She looked up at Winter. "When do we start?"

Winter’s dark eyes gleamed with interest, but her expression remained cold and unreachable.

"Tomorrow," she said. "Be here at 7 AM. Don’t be late."

Bella nodded. "I’ll be here."

Winter nodded back. Just a small dip of her chin.

Bella handed back the tablet, said goodbye and walked out of the lab.

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

10:33 PM

Leo was in his study, the door slightly ajar. She knocked softly and pushed the door open.

He looked up. His gray eyes were tired and shadowed, with dark circles hanging beneath them. His hair was slightly disheveled like he had been running his fingers through it.

"Hey hubby," she said, walking toward him. Her words made his face brighten.

"Hey bunny."

She sat on the edge of his desk, looking down at him. His shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, his sleeves rolled to his elbows. He looked like he hadn’t moved from that chair in hours.

"I have good news," she said.

His expression softened. The tension in his jaw loosened. "Tell me."

She told him about the project and the lab, about the executive who had been impressed by her security work. She told him about the timeline, the goals, the challenges. She told him how excited she was, how her heart had raced when she saw the robots.

Leo listened. His eyes never left her face.

When she finished, he reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers were warm.

"I’m proud of you," he said.

"Really?"

"Hmm."

She smiled, but her smile faded when she saw the tension in his jaw, the shadows under his eyes. Something was wrong. She could feel it.

"What’s wrong?" she asked.

He looked away. "Nothing."

"Leo."

"Just work." He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. "Stressful meetings, you know. Nothing you need to worry about."

She didn’t believe him but she didn’t push.

She slid off the desk and knelt beside his chair, resting her chin on his knee. Her dark eyes looked up at him, soft and worried.

"Leo," she said softly.

He looked down at her. His hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing her skin.

"I’m here," she said. "Whatever it is, I’m here."

He was quiet for a long moment. Then he pulled her up, guiding her onto his lap. She settled against him, her head resting on his shoulder, her arms around his neck. He held her close, his face buried in her hair.

"I know," he said.

She pulled back just enough to look at his face. Her fingers traced the line of his jaw, the curve of his lips.

Feeling her love, he kissed her deeply. His hand slid into her hair, tilting her head back. She melted against him, her fingers curling into his shirt.

When he pulled back, her lips were swollen, her eyes half closed.

He pressed his forehead against hers. "Now tell me more about this project. Before I keep you here all night."

She laughed and pulled out her phone, showing him the project overview while still sitting on his lap, his arms wrapped around her waist.

When she finally went to her room, her phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her pocket.

Dominique.

She swiped to answer. "Hello?"

"Bella Bell!" he sang, his voice loud in her ear. "My favorite sister and best friend and my partner in crime! The light of my life. The apple of my eye."

Bella laughed. "Hi, Dom."

"I need your help. Please help your helpless friend." His voice was dramatic, pleading, like he was begging for his life. "I still have one ticket left. One! Can you believe it? One lonely ticket sitting on my table, staring at me, judging me. I cannot take it anymore. I need you to take it. Give it to someone. Anyone. A stranger. A pigeon. I don’t care."

She could hear him pacing, his footsteps echoing.

"How many tickets did Jason give you?" she asked.

"Thirty, Bella. Thirty! I have distributed twenty-nine. Twenty-nine! Do you know how hard that was? Do you know how many people I had to call? How many favors I had to owe? And still... one remains."

Bella smiled. "I’ll take it."

"Thank you! Thank you! I’ll give it to you tomorrow. First thing in the morning. Before the sun rises. Before I change my mind and burn it."

Before she could respond, he hung up.

Bella stared at her phone.

One ticket.

She thought of Karl. He had been quiet and distant lately. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He laughed, but it sounded hollow. Maybe this would cheer him up.

The Next Morning

Bella woke up early.

The sun was just rising, painting the sky in shades of pink and gold. The birds were singing outside her window. The world was quiet and still.

She dressed quickly. Blue jeans and a soft sweater. Her hair in a low ponytail. She grabbed her bag and headed downstairs.

Leo was in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, a cup of coffee in his hand. He was already dressed. Dark pants, a white shirt, his hair still damp from the shower.

He looked up when she walked in. His gray eyes softened.

"Morning, Bunny."

"Morning hubby."

She walked to him, and he set down his coffee. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. He kissed the top of her head.

"Did you sleep?" he asked.

"Not much."

"Me neither."

She looked up at him. "You were up late."

"I was thinking."

"About?"

He didn’t answer. He just kissed her forehead.

"I’ll be home early tonight," he said. "We can have dinner together. Just us."

She smiled. "I’d like that."

He kissed her again, soft and slow. Then he let her go.

She grabbed her bag and headed to the front door.