Chapter 104: Chapter 104 His card
After they returned from the beach, Leonardo dropped her off in front of the villa. The ride had been mostly silent, though Bella kept sneaking glances at him through the window reflection. Just as she opened the car door to step out, he stopped her with a word.
"You can go shopping today," he said, not looking directly at her as he pulled out a sleek black card and handed it to her. "Use this."
Bella blinked, staring at the platinum card resting between his fingers. "Huh...?"
He didn’t repeat himself, just placed the card gently into her hand and added in a casual voice, "Don’t take too long. And take the guards with you."
Then he stepped out from the car on the other side, leaving her speechless.
Bella stood there, card in hand, staring at it like it was something radioactive.
Her fingers tightened around it, her heart strangely thudding at how generous he had been out of nowhere.
"...Still not going to use it," she mumbled under her breath.
She quickly changed into a cute outfit—a simple white dress with tiny yellow flowers and comfortable sandals—that she had bought from a beachside shop with Scarlett. With her phone, a small purse, and a determined mindset, she stepped out of the villa, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Two bodyguards followed at a distance, keeping quiet and respectful.
Bella went from shop to shop, not buying expensive clothes or things for herself, but carefully choosing small items: hair clips for the maids, a hand-carved keychain for the kind chef, soft slippers for the older helper lady who always gave her extra soup. She even picked out a notebook with cool coding prints for Scarlett.
She thought about Leo too... but then shook her head and moved on. She’d think of something later.
She paid for everything with her own money and carried the bags herself, not letting the guards help her even when they offered. When she finally looked down at Leo’s black card still tucked safely in her pouch, she smiled softly to herself.
She didn’t need his money.
She just wanted to make people around her feel happy.
Bella looked around, her sandals clicking gently against the smooth pavement as she wandered further down the street lined with boutiques and little local shops. The afternoon sunlight painted everything in a golden hue, and there was a soft breeze blowing her hair into her eyes.
"Hmm..." she murmured, scanning the next row of stores. "I still need something for Jay Jay, Lina, Rumi and others..."
She turned the corner and her eyes lit up when she saw a small handmade gift shop. The windows were decorated with wind chimes, handwoven bags, and dreamcatchers swaying softly. It felt warm and cozy like the kind of place where she’d find something thoughtful, something with meaning.
She stepped in and the soft bell above the door chimed. The lady behind the counter greeted her with a smile, and Bella smiled back.
She took her time.
For Jay Jay, she found a pair of quirky socks—one with tiny boxing gloves, another with small guitars.
For Lina, she picked out a delicate, pale pink scarf made from silk, its ends embroidered with golden thread. It reminded her of how elegant and graceful Lina always looked, even when she was scolding people.
And she also brought gifts for Rumi, Eliot, and others.
Each gift, small and simple, was wrapped carefully by the shopkeeper.
Bella paid for everything with her own money and stepped back out into the street, holding the bags close to her chest.
Bella’s eyes sparkled the moment she saw the shop—it was small and tucked between two cafés, but the giant white plushies sitting proudly on display outside immediately pulled her in like a magnet.
She carefully handed her shopping bags to the bodyguard who silently followed her like a shadow all day. "Hold these, please," she said with a bright smile.
The man nodded and took the bags without a word, but Bella noticed a slight twitch of amusement on his lips.
She turned back to the game booth and tiptoed to peek over the counter. There were rows of squishy white bears, chubby bunnies with sleepy eyes, and soft seals that looked like fluffy clouds. Her eyes widened like a child’s. "So cute..."
The game was simple or so it seemed. Toss three plastic balls into a small circular hole. Easy, right?
She paid the fee with her own money and clutched the first ball.
"Alright, Bella, you can do this..." she whispered to herself, taking aim like a serious soldier. Her tongue peeked out slightly as she focused. Then—whoosh!
The ball bounced off the edge and rolled dramatically to the side.
"Oops," she giggled nervously. "Just warming up!"
She tried again.
This time, it flew far too high and smacked the backboard with a loud boing. The shopkeeper chuckled kindly.
Bella pouted, puffing her cheeks. "This hole is so small... I think it’s shy."
She held the third ball like it was the most important thing in the world. She squinted, adjusted her footing, bent her knees, and...
Missed again.
"Waaah..." she looked heartbroken. "So close!" (It actually wasn’t.)
The shopkeeper, clearly amused, said, "You have a cute aim, miss."
The bodyguard who was holding her bags didn’t say anything, but he turned away suspiciously—probably hiding his laugh.
Bella sighed, resting her elbows on the counter like a child who had just lost her candy. Her bottom lip jutted out slightly as she stared longingly at the chubby seal plushie with its tiny flippers and round belly. "I really wanted that seal..."
It was the softest one—white with little blue cheeks and sleepy eyes. It looked like it had just woken up from a cozy nap and was asking to be cuddled.
She stood there for a second, defeated. Then—suddenly—her eyes lit up like a lightbulb had flicked on above her head.
Wait.
She slowly turned around, eyes locking on the tall, burly bodyguard holding her shopping bags. The man looked like he could lift a car with one hand.
Bella tilted her head, clasped her hands together sweetly, and took a step closer.
"Umm... Mister bodyguard?" she said in her softest, most hopeful voice.