His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.-Chapter 551 City D
Leo nodded once. "Yeah."
A small pause followed.
"She is a very good shooter," he added simply.
Bella blinked and did not say anything after that.
In what felt like the blink of an eye, the twenty hour flight passed. Somewhere between movies, quiet conversations, working, sleeping, and long stretches of simply sitting close to each other, time slipped away unnoticed.
When the captain’s calm voice announced their descent, the world outside the window had transformed. The sky was a pale golden blue, and the land below had resolved into a dramatic landscape of deep green mountain valleys and winding roads that looked like silver threads stitched through the earth.
They landed with a whisper in City D. The airport was small, private, and efficient. By the time they descended the jet stairs, two sleek black SUVs were already idling nearby, drivers standing ready.
Bella and Leo moved toward the lead vehicle without discussion. It was a silent agreement.
Behind them, an argument continued.
"I’m just saying, the in flight sparkling water was clearly from a specific spring in—"
"Dom, I don’t care about the mineral composition of the water. You drank six cans of soda."
"Hydration is nuanced, Jason."
Shaking her head with a faint smile, Bella slipped into the back seat, Leo following. Their door shut, muting the ongoing debate as Dom and Jason were ushered into the second SUV.
The drive began, leaving the city outskirts behind quickly. Civilization faded away, replaced by a rising fortress of nature. Mountains, ancient and imposing, climbed around them, their peaks lost in soft trailing clouds. The air grew cooler, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth.
"It’s beautiful," Bella whispered, leaning toward the window. Her breath faintly fogged the glass. Sunlight streamed over the slopes, setting distant waterfalls alight like strands of liquid silver.
Leo was not looking at the view. He was watching her. He watched the wonder in her wide eyes and the gentle curve of her lips. She lifted a hand and pressed her palm lightly against the cool window, as if she could touch the majesty rolling by.
"It feels... untouched," she said softly.
He nodded, his hand finding hers where it rested on the seat between them, linking their fingers. "It’s been protected for a long time."
The higher they climbed, the more the beauty turned severe. The road, perfectly maintained but clearly engineered along the mountain spine, narrowed. Guardrails felt more like polite suggestions against the sheer drops that disappeared into mist filled, tree covered chasms.
Bella’s breath hitched audibly as the SUV took a sharp switchback, the valley yawning below them. Her fingers tightened around Leo’s.
"These roads are a bit..." she trailed off, searching for a word that was not terrifying.
"Dangerous," Leo supplied calmly, his thumb stroking the back of her hand. "But safe. The drivers here are trained for this. And these roads are privately maintained. Safer than they look."
She believed him, but she still shifted closer, her side pressed firmly against his. "Okay," she murmured, mostly to herself.
Just when the tension of the climb felt endless, the forest parted. The resort appeared, not like a structure placed on the mountain, but like one carved from it. Layers of glass, steel, and rich dark wood were terraced into the cliffside, reflecting the sky and forest so perfectly it almost looked camouflaged.
Bella exhaled a slow, stunned breath. "It’s unreal."
"Yes," Leo agreed quietly.
But he was looking at her face, at the awe lighting up her features. This was the view he had been waiting for.
Behind them, in the second SUV:
Dom had his face almost glued to the window. "Okay, new plan. If we plummet to our deaths, you have one job. Delete my browser history. The entire encrypted drive."
Jason did not even look up. "Already backed it up."
Dom slowly turned his head, his expression full of deep horror. "You what?"
The SUVs rolled to a halt on a circular gravel drive in front of the resort’s grand entrance. The air was thin, cold, and scented with pine and the faint sweet fragrance of alpine flowers planted along the stone walkways.
Bella stepped out and immediately felt the sheer scale of the place. Instinctively, she reached for Leo’s arm, her hand slipping around it.
A small group waited for them on the broad stone steps. They were flanked by personnel who stood with a stillness that was not casual and not openly threatening. Just present. Bella’s attention was immediately drawn to the woman at the center.
She was tall, with an elegant, poised presence. A beautifully tailored coat fell to her knees, and she wore a sleek black mask over the lower half of her face. But it was the upper half that commanded attention. Her skin was pale and flawless, and just beside her left eyebrow sat a single perfect mole. Her dark wavy hair was pulled back. And her eyes, a striking electric blue, were sharp, intelligent, and observant. They were the eyes of someone who evaluated first and asked questions later.
"Leo," the woman said. Her voice was low, smooth, and carried a warmth that felt reserved for very few people. She stepped forward and embraced him.
Bella watched with natural curiosity.
Leo returned the hug firmly, giving her back two familiar pats. "Good to see you, Hazy," he said, genuine affection threading through his gravelly tone.
Hazel stepped back and gave a single nod. Then those piercing blue eyes shifted to Bella. The intensity remained, but softened slightly with a small, real smile. "You must be Isabella," she said. "I’m Hazel."
Bella stepped forward without hesitation, her warmth a bright contrast to Hazel’s cool composure. "I’ve been looking forward to meeting you," she said honestly, and moved forward to hug her gently.
As they embraced, Bella caught a glimpse of the tattoo on Hazel’s inner wrist. A coiled red serpent, exquisitely detailed. Beautiful and deadly against her pale skin.
When they parted, Bella turned, gesturing behind her. "I’d like you to meet—"
