Chapter 90: Chapter 90 The Quiet Before
As Isabella walked quietly toward her room, her sandal clicking gently against the marble floor, she paused at the sight of her bedroom door—slightly ajar.
Her brows knit together. She was sure she had closed it before leaving.
A small rush of anxiety ran through her chest. Her cheerful mood from earlier had already taken a hit, and now this... made her feel a bit more on edge.
She reached for the doorknob slowly, her other hand gripping the strap of her handbag just in case.
The door creaked open.
But instead of something suspicious or dangerous, she found a familiar face—one of the housekeeping maids was inside, bending over to wipe the floor near the window. The bedsheets were neatly folded at the foot of the bed, and a fresh scent of lavender hung in the air.
"Oh, ma’am!" the maid jumped slightly when she noticed Bella, looking a bit startled. "I’m so sorry. I was just finishing up the cleaning."
Isabella let out a soft sigh of relief, her tensed shoulders finally relaxing.
"It’s okay," she said gently with a small smile. "Thank you for cleaning."
The maid smiled back, nodding politely before picking up her cleaning tools. "Thank you, ma’am. I’ll get out of your way."
With that, the maid stepped out, leaving the door softly closed behind her.
Isabella stood quietly in the middle of her room, alone again. The room was spotless and calm, sunlight filtering through the curtains. She placed her bag on the bed, brushing her hair back with her fingers.
After washing her face and changing into something more comfortable Isabella tied her hair into a loose ponytail and pulled her laptop onto the bed. The familiar glow of the screen lit up her face as she plugged in her charger and opened her files.
Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she focused on her project. The comforting rhythm of typing calmed her heart, helping her forget about Alexa’s laughter, the confusing feelings about Leo, and the way Scarlett’s words kept echoing in her head.
She was so immersed in her work that she didn’t notice time pass until a knock came from the door, followed by a gentle voice.
"Ma’am, sir is calling for dinner," the maid said from outside.
Isabella blinked and looked at the clock. "Oh! Coming!" she called quickly.
She saved her progress, closed all the tabs, shut the laptop, and stood up. A wave of nervousness fluttered in her stomach as she walked toward the door.
As she approached the dining room, her steps slowed.
Her eyes landed on the long dining table.
And her heart sank a little.
Leonardo was seated at the head of the table, elegant as always in a black button-up shirt. Next to him sat Alexa, laughing softly while twirling a strand of her hair. Casper was on the other side of her, casually drinking something. Zion and Alan were also there, already halfway through their plates.
Everyone was present.
Isabella bit her bottom lip and hesitated for a moment before walking in. The sound of her light steps made a few heads turn. She straightened her shoulders and smiled softly, hoping no one would notice the way her hands trembled slightly.
There was only one seat left—right beside Leonardo.
And Alexa.
As Isabella stepped closer, she could feel Alexa’s sharp gaze slicing through her like icy needles. She didn’t even try to hide her disdain. Her eyes scanned Isabella from head to toe, lips curled ever so slightly like she was mocking every step she took. If looks could make someone fall, Isabella would’ve been on the floor already.
Still, Isabella didn’t flinch. She simply took a slow, steady breath and moved forward with quiet grace. Her fingers gripped her sleeves as she slid into the chair next to Leo. The moment she sat down, the maid stepped in with perfect timing and placed a warm plate of food in front of her—steaming rice, grilled vegetables, and a bowl of hot soup.
She mumbled a soft "thank you," then quietly picked up her spoon.
But the tension didn’t leave her shoulders.
Because she could feel him watching.
Leonardo hadn’t spoken a word since she arrived, but his presence was heavy, his eyes fixed on her as if he could hear every thought in her head. The weight of his stare made her ears burn, but she didn’t look up.
Instead, she focused on her plate, slowly chewing her food and pretending not to notice the pressure building around her like a storm about to break.
It was the quiet before something.
The clinking of spoons and glasses filled the silence in the dining room, but there was tension so thick it could be sliced with a knife.
"So..." Alexa leaned back in her chair, eyes glinting as she swirled the wine in her glass. Her lips curled into a smug little smile. "You had fun with your loud friend today, didn’t you?"
Isabella paused, her spoon halfway to her mouth.
Her expression stiffened slightly. "Her name is Scarlett," she replied, her tone still soft but visibly strained. "And she’s not loud. She’s just... expressive."
"Oh, come on," Alexa chuckled, brushing her perfectly manicured nails against her cheek. "That girl talks like she’s in a stadium. No class. If you wanted friends, Bella, you could’ve just asked me. Right, Leo?"
Leonardo, seated beside Isabella, didn’t look at either woman directly. He simply nodded once, slowly. "She was... a bit much," he said. "Barging into the house like that, causing a scene. It wasn’t appropriate."
And that—that—made Isabella freeze.
Her grip tightened around her spoon, and she slowly lowered it back to her plate. Her chest rose and fell with the smallest sigh. She turned her head just a little, just enough to glance at him.
"You think she wasn’t appropriate?" she asked, her voice a whisper. Not weak, but disbelieving. "She came here because she was worried about me."
Leonardo didn’t respond. His expression was blank, maybe even slightly annoyed.
"She flew from another city just to check on me," Isabella continued, her voice rising ever so slightly now. "Because I called her while I was crying. And no one else even noticed I was upset. Not you."
Alexa laughed lightly, almost mocking. "Well, if you were crying from just a sip of water, Bella, how would anyone take that seriously?"