Chapter 118: Chapter 118 What did I do...?
She rested her elbows on the railing, letting her eyes drift over the horizon. A small smile tugged at her lips, her hair fluttering in the salty wind.
So pretty... she thought, her worries melting away for a moment as she soaked in the sight of the calm, endless blue.
When the cruise finally began to dock, Bella stood by her cabin’s wardrobe, looking at the few neatly folded clothes she’d worn during the short trip. She bit her lip, feeling a bit awkward about leaving them behind. Hugging her bag close, she peeked outside the room and spotted one of Leonardo’s bodyguards standing nearby.
"Um... excuse me..." she called out softly, her small voice barely rising above the soft hum of people moving luggage off the ship. "Do you... do you have an extra bag for these clothes? I don’t want to leave them behind..."
The burly guard blinked, a bit surprised at her innocent worry. Then he gave her a polite nod. "Don’t worry, Ma’am. We’ll handle that for you. Please just keep your things with you and follow us when we disembark."
Bella nodded, hugging her bag tighter to her chest. "Thank you," she whispered, her lashes dipping low.
A short while later, she stepped off the cabin deck and out onto the open area near the ship’s exit. Her eyes widened when she spotted Leonardo standing there already, his broad back unmistakable even from a distance. He wore fitted black shirt tucked into tailored slacks, a sleek pair of sunglasses shielding his cold gray eyes. With his sleeves rolled just enough to show the veins on his strong forearms, and his hair brushed back neatly, he looked every bit the icy, untouchable mafia boss she’d always found so intimidating.
Several bodyguards stood close around him, giving him a wide, protective bubble — a bubble that Bella hesitated to step into. She clutched her bag to her chest, her fingers nervously playing with the strap as she lowered her eyes.
He looks so cold... she thought, her chest squeezing painfully. He didn’t even glance her way, too busy giving short instructions to one of the guards in a low, commanding voice.
When the ship finally docked with a soft jolt, Leonardo turned on his heel and strode down the ramp first without waiting for her, his footsteps brisk and sharp against the floor. Bella blinked, her lips pressing into a tiny pout.
She hurried after him, careful not to trip over her own sandals as she hugged her bag close. Her heart sank a little when she heard one of the bodyguards call out to her gently:
"Ma’am, this way please — we have a different car arranged for you."
Bella froze for a second, her steps faltering. She looked back at Leonardo’s tall figure ahead, already slipping into a luxurious black car with tinted windows. He didn’t even turn to check if she was following.
Her chest felt tight — small, invisible cracks forming in her already fragile heart. She lowered her eyes and whispered a tiny, breathless, "Okay..."
She let the guard guide her toward another car, her small figure nearly swallowed by the busy port around them. And for the first time since she’d stepped off that ship, the ocean behind her looked lonelier than ever.
Bella sat quietly in the backseat of the separate car, hugging her bag to her chest as the engine hummed softly beneath her. She pressed her back into the cold leather, her small fingers tightening around the strap so hard her knuckles turned pale.
What did I do...? she thought, her lashes trembling as they fluttered shut. They were wet, the corner of her eyes stinging from tears that begged to spill but she wouldn’t let them. Not here. Not now.
She turned her head, pressing her forehead against the cool window. Outside, the port blurred past, the ocean slowly shrinking away behind her. Somewhere in that wide, endless water she felt like she’d left something soft and warm, a small piece of herself.
One thing... she whispered to herself, so softly only she could hear it — one thing I should never learn to bear is the coldness of others.
Bella, you shouldn’t care about him anymore, she told herself firmly.
But her small chest still ached. It was so clear now, clearer than the water splashing behind the ship. He must really hate me, she thought, her heart squeezing painfully tight. Maybe he... maybe he really wanted Stella instead.
Her thoughts spun in quiet, pitiful circles. Of course. He was supposed to marry her. Stella ran away, and I — stupid me ended up married to him instead. He must regret it every day. The truth sat heavy in her throat like a stone she couldn’t swallow.
He’s waiting for her, she realized. That’s why he never looks at me like... like I’m really his wife. Why he always keeps distance. Maybe... maybe he loves Stella. Or he did, once. And now he’s stuck with me.
A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye. She sniffed and quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand, forcing a small, shaky breath past her lips.
She lowered her eyes to her lap, hugging her bag tighter as if it could keep all the pieces of her heart from falling apart. It’s okay, she told herself, her lashes still damp but no more tears falling. It’s okay, Bella. You’ll be fine.
As the car rolled through the tall gates of the familiar villa, Bella sat perfectly still in the backseat, her small hands resting tight on her bag. When the door opened, she climbed out quietly, her sandals barely making a sound on the stone driveway.
She didn’t look back at the driver or the guards — she just kept her eyes lowered, her lashes still damp but her face carefully blank. Just reach your room, she thought. Just your room, then you can cry it out.
She stepped inside the living room, the cool air brushing her cheeks as she clutched her bag to her chest. And then she froze.
Leonardo was there standing near the window, his broad back turned slightly, one hand in his pocket, the other holding his phone to his ear. His voice was low and deep, giving short instructions to someone she didn’t know.