Chapter 46

Isabella could not shake off the unpleasant feeling that settled in her stomach at Vito's threatening words. She tried to convince herself that he was just joking, but the cold, hard glint in his eyes told her otherwise. She was still lost in her thoughts, thinking of the worst-case scenarios, when she heard a gentle knock on the door.

"Good morning, Miss Payne," she greeted, trying to sound as cheerful as possible. But her voice trembled slightly, betraying her true emotions. Miss Payne's keen eyes would undoubtedly pick up on any sign of concern, and Isabella did not want to alarm her.

"Still snuggled up in bed, I see," Miss Payne teased, her voice light and playful. "It's almost breakfast time, young lady. You shouldn't keep Leonardo waiting."

Isabella's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Leonardo's name. She tried to appear nonchalant, but her eyes gave away her excitement. "I'll hurry up," she promised, trying to sound casual.

As soon as Miss Payne left her room, Isabella sprang into action. She rushed into the bathroom, her heart racing with anticipation. She quickly showered and dressed, her hands shaking slightly as she applied a light layer of makeup. She couldn't believe that Leonardo was coming to see her.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She would face whatever was coming her way with courage and determination. She misses him though but she hates to admit it.

With a newfound sense of resolve, she sat down on her bed, waiting patiently for breakfast time, which was only ten minutes away. The silence in the room was deafening, and she found herself tapping her foot impatiently, her mind racing with thoughts of what was to come.

Finally, she heard the sound of footsteps outside her door, and her heart skipped a beat. She stood up, smoothing out her dress, and made her way to the dining room. As she entered, she was greeted by an empty table, the silence echoing off the walls. She waited for what felt like an eternity, her eyes fixed on the door, waiting for him to appear.

And then, without warning, a voice boomed from behind her, sending shivers down her spine. "Good morning, Bella." The deep, electrifying tone was unmistakable, and she felt a jolt of fear as she spun around to face him. Leonardo stood in the doorway, his eyes fixed intently on hers, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. Isabella's heart raced as she tried to compose herself, her palms growing sweaty as she struggled to find her voice.

She pretended not to be excited and continued with her food.

“Seems someone didn't miss me,” he said teasingly hoping to start a conversation.

Isabella still ignored him, as she chewed softly her bread. Leonardo took his cup of coffee and liquid cream, they ate in silence, only the sound of the fork coming in their breakable silverware.

As she ate, she debated within herself whether she should inform him of Vito's threat or just let the sleeping dog lie. She thought about it for a while before letting it go; he would dismiss it as a mere threat and nothing to be concerned about.

Leonardo sighed, his eyes never leaving hers, and took a sip of his coffee, the sound of the cup clinking against the saucer echoing through the silence. They ate in silence, the only sound the soft clinking of their silverware against their plates, the tension between them palpable.

"I'm going to see your father," Leonardo said, his voice breaking the awkward silence in the room like a sudden crack of thunder. Isabella's eyes widened, her body frozen in place as if rooted to the spot. She couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't even breathe.

"Why?" she finally managed to say, her voice laced with concern. Her mind was racing with worst-case scenarios, and her heart was pounding in her chest like a drum.

Leonardo's expression was reassuring, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. "It's grown-up business, Bella," he said, his voice low and soothing. "Nothing dangerous, I promise."

Isabella's eyes narrowed, her mind still racing with doubts. She did believe him, not entirely. There was something he wasn't telling her, something he was keeping hidden behind those piercing eyes.

"Okay," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. The mention of her father had unleashed a floodgate of memories, all of them painful and raw. She couldn't wait to be free from this place, from Leonardo's grasp. But how could she leave him? How could she possibly escape? She had tried it before and it didn't end so well.

Leonardo couldn't help but steal glances at Isabella as he ate, his eyes drawn to her like a magnet. Being away from her was like a constant itch he couldn't scratch, a nagging feeling that refused to subside. Even in her troubled expression, she still looked breathtakingly beautiful, her features illuminated by the soft light streaming through the windows.

Leonardo's gaze lingered on her face, his mind struggling to reconcile the conflicting emotions that warred within him. He wanted to reach out, to touch her, to comfort her, but he knew he couldn't. Not yet, at least. So he swallowed his words, his feelings, and excused himself from breakfast, leaving Isabella to her thoughts.

But before he left, he couldn't resist one last gesture. He leaned in, his lips brushing against her cheek in a soft, gentle kiss. Isabella's eyes widened, her face flushing with surprise and something else - something that looked almost like pleasure.

Leonardo smirked, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he pulled back, his gaze locked on hers. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them palpable, electric. Then, with a wink, Leonardo turned and left the dining room, leaving Isabella to wonder what had just happened.