Chapter 23: ...WHAT YOU STARTED!
ELLA
The door burst open instantly, and I froze, colour draining from my face as the familiar figure stood by the door way.
It was Bella.
I suddenly couldn’t help it, as Instantly, her voice ca echoing in my head. ’You better stay away from them...’
I didn’t even realize it, as I took an involuntary step backwards, my back colliding with the desk. Bella’s presence filled the room. Her gaze fixed on both Leonard and I. There was sothing in her eyes, sothing sharp, sothing unreadable, that made my stomach tighten without warning.
The silence stretched for a brief mont before Leonard spoke.
"Can’t you knock?" he asked, irritation evident on his face as his brows furrowed slightly.
"Sorry I interrupted," Bella replied almost imdiately.
Her voice was low and soft, as It carried the tone of soone wronged, soone innocent, as though she had just walked into sothing she shouldn’t have seen. From a distance, anyone would think she was the victim in this situation.
And just like that...
Leonard’s expression changed.
The irritation lted away, replaced by sothing gentler, sothing almost apologetic as he turned fully toward her.
"Bella, I..." he started, but the words didn’t co out.
He seed stuck, caught between explanation and silence but Bella didn’t press him, instead, she shifted her gaze slowly until it landed on .
And the mont it did, a chill ran down my spine. It was that deadly look she had given
earlier, back in the room.
That terrifying, hidden edge behind her soft expression. It was subtle, almost invisible unless you paid close attention, but I saw it and it made
shiver.
She took a step toward , closing the distance between us with calm, asured movents. Her hand lifted gently, brushing against my hair.
From afar... it would look affectionate, like she was simply patting my head but I felt it—he force behind it, slightly harder than it seed to appear. A silent warning hidden beneath a soft gesture.
"I was actually looking for Theresa," she said, turning her attention back to Leonard as though nothing was wrong. "Mind if I steal her for a bit, brother?" she added with a small smile.
Steal her?
The word lingered in my mind, but I barely had ti to process it, because one thing was certain, there was no way I was going with her.
I didn’t now want to be alone with her, not even for a second, not after everything she had already said to .
"I can’t go with you, Bella," I said imdiately, my voice coming out faster than I expected.
I turned toward Leonard instinctively, as though seeking protection.
"I had a nightmare," I added quickly. "I want to stay with Leonard."
For a brief second, the room felt still again, and Leonard’s face lit up. The change was instant, almost too obvious to ignore. He stepped forward, his hands reaching out to hold my arms gently, as though reassuring .
"It’s okay, Theresa," he said softly."You can stay with ." He paused for a mont, his gaze steady, unwavering. "I’m here for you."
His words settled in the air, calm and certain but despite that, I could still feel Bella’s presence and when I turned to look at her, I noticed it imdiately.
The way her hands clenched tightly at her sides, her fingers curling into her palms as though she was holding sothing back, sothing she didn’t dare to show.
But for once...I didn’t care, not with Leonard standing right beside .
There was a strange sense of security in his presence, sothing I couldn’t quite explain. It made
feel... safer. Safer than I had felt since stepping into this place.
And maybe that was why, a sudden urge rose within —An unfamiliar one—To prove sothing.
Even if I didn’t fully understand what that "sothing" was.
Before I could stop myself, I leaned slightly into Leonard, resting against his shoulder as my fingers moved almost absentmindedly, tracing the fabric of his shirt.
"Leonard... I want to sleep," I muttered softly.
The words felt natural as they left my lips, as though I had said them before... many tis.
Beside , Leonard stiffened slightly, then relaxed almost imdiately.
"Bella," he said, his tone calm but firm, "you can play and talk to Theresa tomorrow."He paused briefly, taking a quiet breath before continuing. "For now... let her sleep."
There was no room for argunt in his voice.
"Alright, Theresa!" Bella replied, her smile returning, wide, sweet, almost too perfect.
But her eyes, they said otherwise as they lingered on
just a second longer than necessary.
Then she turned to Leonard.
"Anything for you Theresa," she added smoothly. "We will see in the morning." Her gaze flickered back to , sothing unreadable passing through it. "I hope you wouldn’t run away again."
The words carried a hidden edge, and honestly I got every hint of the ssage she was trying to pass.
She turned and walked out of the room.
The door closed behind her.
Silence followed.
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, relief washing over
as the tension in my body eased. Instinctively, I pulled away from Leonard, creating a small distance between us.
His brow lifted slightly, a hint of curiosity—and sothing else—crossing his expression.
"What now?" he asked.
I hesitated for a brief mont before answering.
"Thank you, Leonard," I said, my voice softer now. "But I’ll be heading to my room."
I turned, ready to leave, eager to put so space between myself and everything that had just happened but I didn’t get far.
"Not so fast, Princess." His voice ca from behind , low and deliberate.
Before I could react, he closed the distance I had created, his hands settling firmly on my waist, pulling
back.
My breath hitched slightly.
"You have to finish what you started," he murmured.
I swallowed hard.
What ss have I gotten myself into?
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