After ending the call with a sharp press of his thumb, Leonardo walked back into the room, his expression dark and annoyed. His jaw was tight, his steps controlled but anyone paying close attention would know he was seething inside.
And there she was.
Curled up on the corner of the sofa like a tiny creature, her eyes half-closed, arms wrapped around her knees, wearing his clothes like they were a blanket.
"You can sleep on the bed," he said flatly, voice devoid of emotion.
Isabella blinked awake, her big brown eyes going wide as she sat up. "No! I can sleep on the sofa," she said quickly, hugging the cushion like it was a treasure. "It's more comfortable than my old bed… and it's big enough."
Leonardo narrowed his eyes. "No need," he replied, jaw clenching slightly. He didn't like disobedience. Especially from someone who now shared his house. His room.
"I said, you sleep on the bed," he repeated, more firmly this time.
But Isabella shook her head furiously and suddenly sprawled out on the sofa with a little flop, arms and legs stretching like a sleepy cat.
"I claimed it," she said smugly, blinking her big eyes up at him. "Now the sofa has my scent. You can't sleep here."
She even rubbed her sleeve against the cushion for good measure, clearly proud of her logic.
Leonardo stared at her.
Speechless.
This was the girl he'd married?
This small, sleepy bunny wrapped in his t-shirt, claiming territory like a five-year-old with her favorite pillow?
I'm losing brain cells, he thought as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
Fine.
Without a word, he grabbed an extra blanket from his closet and tossed it toward her. It landed softly over her legs. Then, without sparing her another look, he walked to the massive king-sized bed, adjusted the AC temperature lower...he liked the room cold and turned off the lights.
Silence fell.
But he couldn't sleep.
He lay on his back, eyes open in the dark, listening to the faint sound of soft, steady breathing from the other side of the room.
It wasn't just the unfamiliar presence that kept him awake...it was the absolute nerve she had. Claiming the sofa. Curling up like she belonged here. Even snoring—snoring!—softly like the whole situation didn't bother her at all.
Does she not even realize it's her wedding night?
Leonardo closed his eyes and exhaled deeply, trying to calm the storm in his mind.
She was clueless.
Hopelessly innocent.
And completely unbothered by the fact that she was sleeping in a mafia boss's room.
He, however, took a very long time to fall asleep.
*
*
*
"Any news about Stella?" Jessica asked, her voice sharp with impatience as she turned toward her husband.
Sam sat on the edge of the bed, his face now tense and cold, the usual expression replaced with a frown. His phone rested in his hand, screen dark. "Not yet," he replied, jaw tight. "The men haven't tracked her down."
Jessica let out a frustrated sigh and began pacing the length of the room. She looked genuinely distressed, but beneath that worry was a familiar edge of anger. "That girl! We spoiled her too much. Look what we've created—a rebellious brat with no sense of duty."
She rubbed her forehead as if it would stop the chaos Stella had left behind.
Sam leaned back with a sigh, folding his arms. "Don't worry. She's just infatuated. The guy she ran away with—she'll get bored. You know her. If something's fun, she clings to it. But if it loses the spark, she drops it like trash."
Jessica paused, her lips twitching into a dry smile. "Yeah… yeah, you're right." She turned back to him, her eyes glinting with a strange mix of pride and irritation. "Whose daughter is she, anyway?"
Sam chuckled lowly, shaking his head.
Jessica slowly sat beside Sam on the bed, her tone softer now, her expression carefully composed with a touch of practiced concern.
"When Stella comes back…" she said gently, folding her hands in her lap, "we'll make everything right again."
Sam looked at her, nodding slowly. "We'll have Isabella step away. She was never supposed to be part of the long-term plan. It was always supposed to be Stella."
Jessica sighed, eyes lowering as if she pitied Isabella. "Poor girl. She's innocent, sweet… just caught in the middle of something too big for her." She glanced up at Sam with a faint smile. "We'll take care of her. Find her a simple, kind man to marry. Someone soft. Someone she can be happy with."
Sam's lips curved into a small smirk. "That'll be easy. She doesn't seem like the type who'll protest too much."
Jessica nodded, her tone warm, almost motherly. "She'll understand. I'll explain it gently. She's not meant for someone like Leonardo. That world would chew her up. Stella, on the other hand… she was raised for it."
"She's bold. Smart. Can handle pressure," Sam added. "She can stand next to Leonardo without blinking."
Jessica smiled, tilting her head slightly. "And once she returns, we'll spin it carefully. Isabella will step away gracefully, and we'll guide her toward something simpler. A peaceful life."
"And Leonardo?" Sam asked.
Jessica's smile didn't fade. "He'll understand. He's a logical man. Once we present it properly, he'll agree that Stella suits him better."
Sam leaned back, folding his arms. "You're good at this."
Jessica chuckled lightly. "I'm a mother, Sam. I know how to take care of all my daughters."
But behind her soft tone and gentle words, her eyes gleamed with quiet calculation.
Because even when pretending to be kind...Jessica was always three steps ahead.
The Next Morning…
Isabella slowly blinked her eyes open, the soft morning light filtering through the heavy curtains. For a moment, she lay still, her thoughts fuzzy. The room was silent, the kind of silence that didn't feel warm but cold and distant.
And then it hit her.
This isn't my room…