His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.-Chapter 516 - 416 A Proud Grandfather

Scarlett tilted her head, still holding the note between her fingers, her expression hovering somewhere between playful curiosity and genuine concern. "You’re going to tell Leo, right?" she asked lightly, though there was a subtle seriousness behind her tone.

Bella shook her head, slipping the note back into the box and closing the lid with care. "Not now," she replied softly. "He’s already busy with work. I don’t want to distract him over something I don’t even understand yet."

Scarlett nodded, accepting that answer, though her eyes still sparkled with questions. "Fair enough," she murmured. "But this is definitely suspicious."

Bella pulled out her phone, her expression shifting from warm and casual to focused and sharp. With a few swift taps, she opened a private website she had built herself. Scarlett leaned closer, completely unsurprised. She had seen this side of Bella many times before, the calm confidence, the quiet precision, the way technology seemed to respond naturally to her.

The cafe’s CCTV footage loaded on the screen.

They fast-forwarded through the recording until the moment from earlier appeared. The man in the navy suit came into view, seated with his back to the camera. Bella zoomed in, enhancing the frame. The image sharpened enough to reveal more detail, but the angle and lighting exposed a problem.

His face was covered with a dark mask.

"Here," Bella murmured, tilting the screen toward Scarlett. "This is him."

Scarlett squinted at the display. "He’s tall," she noted, studying his posture, the broad line of his shoulders, the way he carried himself. "And confident. Not someone who blends into a crowd by accident."

Bella hummed in agreement, saving the frame. "I’ll keep this."

Scarlett tapped her chin thoughtfully, then smirked. "You know... Dominique has that weird face and eye recognition software. The one he keeps bragging about."

Bella’s lips curved into a small smile. "Good idea. I’ll send it to him later."

"Please do," Scarlett laughed. "Now I’m invested."

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Back at William’s house, the atmosphere was warm, lively, and filled with the sound of old friends reminiscing.

William sat proudly in his armchair, a gentle glow on his face as he spoke animatedly. Across from him sat Jasper and Nick, both elderly men in their late seventies or early eighties, dressed in crisp shirts and blazers, their expressions a mix of amusement and barely concealed envy.

"My granddaughter," William said, unable to hide the pride in his voice, "is just like me. Smart. Sharp. And brilliant with code. She understands things most young people can’t even begin to grasp."

Jasper scoffed lightly, though his smile betrayed his feelings. "You’ve already said that three times today," he teased. "We get it. You’ve won the family lottery."

Nick chuckled, shaking his head. "All I got were grandsons who think technology means pressing random buttons and hoping something works."

William laughed heartily. "That’s exactly why I’m proud," he said. "She’s not just kind, sweet, and beautiful. She’s capable. Independent. Clever."

His friends exchanged glances, half amused, half jealous.

"You’re unbearable," Jasper muttered with a grin. "But I’ll admit... you look ten years younger whenever you talk about her."

William smiled to himself, eyes softening. "She gave me a reason to feel young again," he said quietly. "A second chance to be a proper grandfather."

He leaned back comfortably in his chair, a fond smile tugging at his lips as he continued talking about Bella, his tone warm and full of quiet pride.

"And she has Leonardo Moretti wrapped around her pinky finger," he added with open amusement. "You both know how he used to be. Cold. Untouchable. Always traveling, always surrounded by danger, always acting like he had no room in his heart for anything soft." He chuckled, shaking his head. "But now? The moment my granddaughter walks into the room, his entire expression changes. It’s like watching a statue come to life."

Nick’s brows lifted, clearly intrigued. "Leonardo Moretti... that ruthless man? You’re telling me he softens for a girl?"

"Not just softens," William corrected with a grin. "He watches her like she’s the center of his world. Every movement. Every word. There’s patience in him now. Warmth. Even humor." He laughed lightly. "If you had shown me this version of him years ago, I would have thought he was an impostor."

Jasper leaned forward, eyes gleaming with interest. "Now you’re making me curious. You must introduce your granddaughter to us properly," he said eagerly. Then, with a playful sigh, he added, "Honestly, if she weren’t already married, I would have brought my grandson along and tried to steal her away."

William froze for a beat, then burst into deep, amused laughter. "Steal my granddaughter?" he repeated. "You are brave, Jasper. Or foolish."

Jasper grinned, clearly enjoying the tease. "A little of both, perhaps."

"Well," William said with mock seriousness, lifting his hands, "I already have a very dangerous son-in-law. If he ever heard you say that..." He tilted his head dramatically and made a playful slicing motion across his neck, his expression exaggeratedly grave. "You might not live long enough to apologize."

Jasper immediately shivered in an over-the-top manner, clutching his chest. "Good heavens, don’t tell him," he said quickly. "I value my life far too much." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

William nodded solemnly. "Your secret is safe with me," he promised, though his eyes twinkled with mischief.

Nick laughed, shaking his head at both of them. "You sound like a teenage boy talking about his crush," he teased William. "Never thought I’d see the day."

William smiled softly, his voice lowering just a little. "She makes me feel young," he admitted. "I missed so many years. Too many. Now I want to make up for every single one. I want her to feel cherished. Protected."

A brief, gentle silence followed.

Then Jasper cleared his throat with a grin. "Alright, proud grandfather," he said lightly. "When do we get to meet this miracle girl?"

William’s face brightened instantly. "Soon," he said, unable to hide his excitement. "Very soon. And when you do, you’ll understand why I can’t stop talking about her."