His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.

Chapter 803 His coldness

The house had grown cold.

Not because of the temperature, but because of Leo. He was like a glacier that had drifted into the middle of their home, radiating coldness that seeped into every corner, into every person who dared to enter his presence. He didn’t speak to Jay. He didn’t look at Jace. When they entered a room, he left. When they spoke, he walked away. His gray eyes were hollow and empty like windows to a dark room with no light inside.

No one dared to say anything. No one wanted to become the target of his coldness.

Bella watched him from across the living room. He was standing by the window, his back to everyone, his shoulders rigid, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. The sunlight fell across his face, casting shadows that made him look like a statue carved from ice. His gray eyes stared out at the garden but he wasn’t seeing it. He was seeing something else, something far away, something that made his jaw tight and his breathing shallow.

He had been distant with everyone, withdrawing into himself like a wounded animal seeking shelter in a dark cave.

She knew the reason. She had guessed it. Maybe Jay and Jace had told him the truth. Maybe they had finally confessed whatever secret they had been hiding. And Leo wasn’t happy about it. He was angry, hurt, betrayed and when he felt those emotions, he locked himself away and became distant, building walls around his heart so no one could reach him.

Thankfully, they hadn’t told him that she knew too. Otherwise, he might have become even more hurt, might have felt even more isolated, might have pulled away from her as well.

Even thinking about it made her heart pound and her palms sweat. She felt scared, not of him,l but of the cold, of the distance, of losing the warmth she had grown so used to, the warmth that had become her home.

She couldn’t bear his coldness. Not after receiving his love. She loved being loved by him.

She took a breath, walked up behind him, and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her body against his back. Her cheek rested between his shoulder blades and she could feel the tension in his muscles, the way he held himself so rigidly.

He didn’t move.

She held him tighter, her fingers splaying across his stomach.

"Leo," she whispered against his back.

He didn’t turn, but she felt his breath hitch.

She moved around him slowly, her body brushing against his. She stood in front of him, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his skin. She looked up at him through her lashes, her brown eyes soft and warm.

His gray eyes met hers. They were tired, hollow and guarded like he had been fighting a war inside himself and was losing but when he looked at her, something shifted in them. The ice cracked, just a little.

"Come back to me," she whispered.

She reached out and took his hand. His skin was cold, but she didn’t let go. She raised his palm to her lips and kissed each knuckle, one by one, slowly. Her lips were warm and soft against his skin. She looked at him while she did it, her eyes never leaving his.

His breath caught.

"You’re not alone," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Whatever you’re carrying, you don’t have to carry it alone."

She kissed his palm, then his wrist. She felt his pulse quicken beneath her lips.

"I’m here," she said. "I’m always here."

His jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened. "Bunny," he said, his voice rough.

She stepped closer, pressing her body against his. Her hands slid up his chest, over the fabric of his shirt. She could feel his heartbeat beneath her palms, fast and strong.

"You can push me away all you want," she said, "but I’m not leaving."

She rose on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his, soft at first, gentle, like she was asking permission. His lips were cold and still but she didn’t pull away. She kissed him again, deeper this time, her fingers curling into his shirt.

He didn’t respond.

She pulled back and looked at him. His eyes were dark, his breathing shallow.

"Let me in," she whispered. "Please."

Click. His locked heart unblocked.

His arms wrapped around her, pulling her against him, crushing her to his chest. His lips found hers, hungry and desperate, pouring all his pain, anger and fear into the kiss. His hands tangled in her hair, tilting her head back, deepening the kiss.

She melted against him, her body molding to his, her fingers gripping his shoulders.

When he finally pulled back, they were both breathing hard. His forehead rested against hers, his eyes closed.

"I’m sorry," he whispered. "I’m sorry."

She reached up and touched his face, her thumb tracing the line of his jaw. "Don’t be sorry," she said. "Just don’t shut me out."

He opened his eyes. They were soft now, warm, full of everything he had been trying to hide.

"I won’t," he said. "I promise."

She smiled and kissed his nose. He pulled her into his arms and held her tight.

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

In the afternoon, Jason left for the venue.

He had to leave early, much earlier than the rest of them. The organizers had strict protocols in place, a long list of procedures and physical examinations that every driver had to complete before they were allowed anywhere near the track. It was standard for professional competitions, especially one as high-stakes as this. The risks were enormous, the speeds deadly, and the margin for error almost nonexistent. One wrong move, one lapse in concentration, one hidden health issue could end not just a career but a life.

So Jason had to prove he was fit. Physically, mentally, medically. Every driver had to. Blood pressure, heart rate, vision tests, reflex checks. They would measure his stress levels, his oxygen intake, his muscle response time. If anything was off, even by a small margin, he would be disqualified on the spot. No exceptions. No second chances.

He had been nervous all morning, pacing the kitchen, muttering to himself, checking the time every few minutes. But when he finally grabbed his keys and headed for the door, his voice was bright and cheerful, the same loud, carefree Jason everyone knew.

"I’ll see you all tonight! Don’t be late! And wear something stylish! Dashing! Handsome! Beautiful! You know the drill!"

Dominique rolled his eyes from the couch, a lazy grin spreading across his face. "We know the drill, bro."

"Just making sure!"

The door slammed shut behind him.