Chapter 293: Chapter 293 Escape
Tom’s face softened, he smiled and it made her breathe easier. "Finally you understand," he said. "Rich people are a mess underneath, but we—" he squeezed her as if to prove it, "we mess together. We can do this. We can find work, save, build a home that is ours." He pulled back to cup her face, his thumb gentle on her cheek. "We will change our life. We will run if we have to. We will keep each other." His voice trembled with hope, and for the first time that night Stella believed in the possibility of ordinary happiness.
Still, a cold thread of fear tugged at her. Leo was so dangerous, she feared he would come behind her again to harm her. She still feared he would kill her. The fever she had once imagined at the thought of being his wife had curdled into dread.
She had tried to call Alexa, to get some sense of whether she could be reckless and defy the currents alone, but Alexa’s head had been elsewhere, blinded by schemes and the false glamour of wealth. Stella’s stomach twisted at the thought of how little some people understood the real risk of living inside that ring of power.
So she made a choice. She would leave. She would go back to where she came from if she had to. She would choose a life where she had a say, where she and Tom could fight and laugh and survive together instead of being bought and boxed into someone else’s plan.
"Forget the status," she whispered to Tom. "I would rather fight with you, Tommy." His fingers tightened around hers and he helped her escape from there.
***
The room was quiet, only the faint glow of the lamp casting warm light against the curtains. Bella lay curled beneath the blanket, her breathing even as though she were asleep. But she was not. Her heart was too restless, her cheeks too warm. She closed her eyes tighter, determined to keep up the act.
Then she felt it, the dip of the mattress beside her, subtle but unmistakable. The shift made her heart stutter. A moment later, the slow slide of an arm brushed against her, then wrapped firmly around her waist, pulling her back into a chest she knew all too well.
Her body stiffened, her face flooding with heat. She wanted to gasp, to sit up, but instead she let herself curl into his hold, her fingers clutching the blanket as if it might shield her from the storm inside. His warmth surrounded her, his steady breath brushed the back of her neck.
"Good night, little bunny," Leo murmured, his voice low, roughened by the edge of drowsiness but still heavy with possession.
Bella’s lips curved against the pillow despite herself. Her heart melted at the endearment, even as she fought to keep her eyes closed, pretending she had not heard. But then,
"Good night, Dorabella," he added, as if to the big pink bunny sitting smugly on the couch.
Bella’s lashes fluttered, her pout returning instantly. What? Her chest tightened in indignation. Why was he wishing Dorabella good night too? She was right here. She loved Dorabella, but she felt jealous, just a tiny bit.
She wriggled faintly in his arms, her cheeks puffing in silent jealousy. Yet his hold only tightened, firm and unrelenting, as if he knew she was fighting inside but did not care. He buried his face lightly into her hair, the faintest of smirks tugging at his lips.
Bella huffed quietly, hugging the blanket tighter, deciding she would not forgive him so easily tomorrow. Still, the steady beat of his heart at her back was enough to lull her, her thoughts slowly drifting between warmth, annoyance, and the strange happiness of belonging in his arms, even if he dared share his goodnight with a plush rabbit.
****
The morning light slipped gently through the curtains, warming Bella’s face until her lashes fluttered open. She stretched, only to freeze as the memories from last night rushed back—his arms around her, his voice murmuring good night, little bunny. Her cheeks warmed instantly.
Then a sound reached her ears, the rustle of fabric, the soft snap of buttons. She blinked fully awake and sat up, rubbing her eyes. And there he was. Leo, standing tall in front of the mirror, buttoning the dark violet shirt she had bought for him. The shirt hugged perfectly to his broad shoulders, every line of his frame accentuated. Bella’s heart skipped, her stomach flipping.
"Leo!" she blurted, her voice a little too loud in the quiet room.
He turned smoothly, one brow arching, his smirk faint but dangerous. "Hmm?" His tone was lazy, but his eyes glinted with amusement. Early in the morning, and my bunny is already fierce, he thought.
Bella’s cheeks puffed as she scrambled for an excuse. "I... I am going to Scarlett’s home!" she declared, her chin tilted high as if daring him to stop her.
For a moment she braced herself for interrogation, maybe a glare or one of his sharp remarks. Instead, he simply nodded, fastening the last button of his shirt with calm indifference.
Bella’s jaw dropped. What? He did not care? Not even a single question? Her cheeks burned hotter with annoyance. How could he just nod like that?
But before she could protest, Leo strolled toward the couch, where Dorabella sat proudly among the pillows. Leaning down with deliberate care, he pressed a kiss to the bunny’s forehead.
Bella froze. Her eyes went wide, her breath catching.
"I will try to come home early, Bella," he murmured against the plush, his lips curving. "Do not wait up too much."
Bella rubbed her eyes furiously. No way. No way she had just seen that. Did Leo just kiss Dorabella a second time? Her heart pounded wildly, confusion mixing with disbelief. For a second she almost convinced herself it was Jay playing some prank, but no, the smirk on his face was unmistakably Leo’s.
Then he turned, meeting her stunned gaze. With the most casual boldness, he winked.
Bella’s mouth fell open. Her cheeks went scarlet. What? Did he just wink at her? Or... no... maybe she was still half-asleep?
"Kissing my girlfriend goodbye before going to the office," he said smoothly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He adjusted his cuffs, gave Dorabella one last pat, and walked out the door without another word.
Bella sat frozen on the bed, her blanket bunched in her fists, her wide eyes still fixed on the door he had left through. Her mind spun in a thousand circles. Did he really just... did he just call Dorabella his girlfriend again? Or was he... no... he could not mean her... right?