Chapter 82: Chapter 82 What was he saying?
Then his voice came again, this time lower. "Is what she said true? Did you drink?"
Isabella’s eyes widened a little. Her fingers clutched the edges of the jacket, and she looked away quickly, biting her bottom lip. Her shoulders stiffened as fear crawled into her chest. "I-I..." she stammered.
The words wouldn’t come out. Her lips trembled. Her breath caught in her throat. She had only taken a sip. She hadn’t known it was alcohol until it burned her throat—but what if he didn’t believe her?
Leonardo’s eyes narrowed slightly. He didn’t need her to say more. The guilt in her voice, the way her arms hugged herself through the jacket, and the way her legs wobbled slightly all told him the truth.
She really had drunk.
"Hmm." Leonardo’s voice was low, a quiet sound filled more with disappointment than anger. He looked at Isabella, really looked at her—wrapped in his jacket, eyes watery, lower lip trembling slightly as she stood in front of everyone like a guilty child.
He thought she wasn’t like other girls.
He thought she was the type who stayed away from this kind of crowd.
Who didn’t care about parties, or drinking, or fitting in.
And now? She stood there, quiet and shaken, and for a moment he couldn’t tell if he was more upset at her... or at himself for believing in her so easily.
Alexa caught that flicker in his expression.
She smiled—no, she smirked.
Triumph glittered in her eyes like a victory she had been waiting to claim. She tilted her head slightly, watching Isabella through her lashes, pleased.
That’s right, her eyes seemed to say. She’s not so innocent after all.
But Isabella didn’t see it.
"Isabella, my friend Javi is asking for your phone number," Alexa suddenly said, flipping her hair as she smiled sweetly like nothing was wrong. "He said he had fun with you last night." Her voice was loud enough for everyone in the room to hear, and there was something mocking hidden beneath the sweetness in her tone.
"Huh?" Isabella blinked in confusion, her lips parted slightly as she looked at Alexa, not understanding. "Who’s... Javi?" she asked quietly, brows furrowed as she tried to remember the name. Her voice was innocent, soft, and completely lost. She didn’t remember talking to anyone named Javi. She didn’t even remember half of what happened last night after drinking that bitter-tasting water.
Leonardo’s expression froze. His jaw tightened slowly, and his fingers curled into a fist. His cold eyes turned even darker as he looked at Isabella’s puzzled face. And before anyone else could say anything, he stepped forward and caught her wrist firmly.
"No," he said, voice low but sharp.
Isabella looked at him with wide eyes, surprised by his reaction.
He turned to Alexa, and the air shifted—his voice came out harder now, like ice breaking. "Don’t think I wasn’t understanding what you’re trying to imply."
Alexa blinked, her smile twitching. "Leo—" she tried to speak, but he didn’t let her finish.
"I’m already having a headache," he said, his fingers tightening slightly around Isabella’s wrist. "Don’t make it worse by dragging my wife into your games."
There was silence in the room. Casper awkwardly cleared his throat, Zion looked away, and even Alan stayed still, watching the tension grow.
Alexa chuckled nervously, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "I was just joking..."
But Leonardo didn’t respond to her anymore. His eyes were still on Isabella, scanning her expression, her confused eyes, her red cheeks, her soft lips trembling slightly.
"Come with me," he said quietly, pulling Isabella gently by the wrist.
He pushed the door open and brought her inside. The moment he stepped into her room, his eyes narrowed. Clothes were scattered on the floor, the blanket half off the bed, and her laptop still open on the side. It looked like a storm had passed through. He glanced at her with a disapproving look.
Isabella followed him in and saw where he was looking. "What... what?" she asked, blinking up at him like a clueless kitten. She tilted her head, her voice soft and hesitant. She hated how tall he was in moments like this—it made her feel like a child being scolded.
Leonardo turned to face her fully. "Don’t drink like that again," he said sharply, his expression cold and unreadable.
Isabella stared at him. What was he saying?
Yes, she had taken a sip, but she didn’t even know it was alcohol. And alcohol... she hated alcohol. Her heart thudded in her chest as memories she didn’t want came rushing back—her uncle’s drunken roars, broken things, broken people.
She opened her mouth, hurt flashing in her eyes. "I didn’t drink! It’s she—" she began, her voice trembling as she tried to defend herself, but her words were cut off when he suddenly reached forward and placed his finger gently on her lips.
Her breath hitched.
His touch was firm but not rough. His finger rested right on her soft lips, and her words died instantly. Her eyes widened as she stared up at him, and for a second, her brain forgot what she was trying to say. Her heart was thumping so loudly it echoed in her ears.
Leonardo looked down at her, his eyes dark and intense. "And you can’t talk to other guys," he said, his voice lower now. Possessive. Quiet. But clear.
"W-why?" Isabella whispered, blinking fast, cheeks turning warm. His finger was still on her mouth, and she could feel her lips gently brushing against his skin every time she moved. His touch was light, but her heart was in chaos.
Leonardo’s brows lifted slightly when he felt it—that warm breath from her lips softly hitting his finger. It made him freeze.
Neither of them moved for a moment.
The silence was loud between them.
His finger slowly dropped from her lips. But his eyes were still on her face, searching—measuring like he was trying to understand what the hell she was doing to him. She looked so innocent. So clueless. So painfully beautiful.
And damn it, he couldn’t think.