His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.-Chapter 606 Why did she even care what this stranger thought?
"Please don’t thank me, Miss J," William said warmly as they settled into the plush seating. The lounge felt even more intimate now, just the three of them and the soft classical music drifting through the air. "I’ve always wondered—your painting, ’Stormy Eyes’—how can any piece of art hold so much emotion? Every time I look at it, I feel something new. Loss. Longing. Hope, even in the darkness."
Miss J’s eyes flickered. For a moment, complex emotions passed through them, a flash of old pain, carefully buried.
"Pain made that painting," she said softly with a small smile. "When the heart overflows with things too heavy to carry alone, they spill onto the canvas. The storm becomes art. The tears become color."
Bella stared at her without blinking.
She couldn’t help it. There was something about this woman, her voice, her presence, the way she spoke about pain like an old friend. It drew Bella in, held her captive.
Miss J felt Bella’s eyes on her. She glanced at Bella and had to suppress a smile.
Cute, she thought. How cute she is, looking at me without blinking. Like I’m something fascinating.
Her gaze softened as she studied the girl. Pink cheeks, slightly chubby in an endearing way. So young. So earnest.
I want to pinch those cheeks, she thought, inwardly amused. She must be a college student. So fresh, so full of life. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
"She is my granddaughter," William said proudly, noticing Miss J’s attention on Bella. "Isabella."
Bella blinked rapidly, suddenly aware she’d been staring. She nodded her head multiple times, a little flustered. "H-hi. I mean—hello. Nice to meet you. Properly. Now."
Miss J’s lips curved. "You must be in college, yes?"
The question hit Bella like a small stone.
College.
She felt a strange twist in her chest. If she told this elegant, accomplished woman that she didn’t even want to go to college, that she was only doing it online as a compromise, that she’d rather focus on having a baby, what would she think?
Why did she even care what this stranger thought?
But she did. She wanted to impress this lady. Desperately. For reasons she couldn’t explain. It was weird.
"Yes," Bella said quickly, perhaps too quickly. "Yes, I’m about to start college. B.Tech in Computer Science."
Miss J’s eyebrows rose, genuine admiration flickering in her warm brown eyes. "That’s so impressive! I wouldn’t even understand the basics of it. Computers and codes and all that—it’s like magic to me."
She laughed softly, a gentle, musical sound, and Bella felt her cheeks warm.
"You’re very kind," Bella murmured, looking down at her hands.
Miss J studied her for another moment, something thoughtful in her gaze. Then she asked, softly curious, "So what are your future plans, Isabella? After college? What do you dream about?"
Bella looked up.
What did she dream about?
A baby. A family. A life with Leo. But she couldn’t say that to this woman she’d just met. Not without sounding foolish.
"I..." She hesitated. "I want to use what I learn to help people. Protect them, maybe. And..." She trailed off, unsure how much to share.
Miss J waited patiently, her eyes warm and encouraging.
Bella took a breath. "And I want a family. You know what I mean? It was a later dream."
Something flickered in Miss J’s expression. Then she smiled again, gentle and genuine.
"Those are beautiful dreams, Isabella," she said softly. "Both of them."
Bella’s heart did a strange little flip.
William watched the exchange, his eyes narrowing almost imperceptibly. He said nothing, but he didn’t miss a single detail.
Miss J’s gaze lingered on Bella, something warm and almost wistful in her expression. "You remind me of someone," she said quietly, almost to herself.
Bella tilted her head. "Someone you loved?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Miss J’s face, then softened into something tender. "Yes. Someone I loved very much." She paused, her voice dropping even lower. "Someone I lost."
Her voice held pain and suffering.
Bella’s heart ached for this woman she’d just met. Without thinking, she reached out and gently touched Miss J’s hand where it rested on the arm of the couch.
"I’m sorry," Bella whispered. "Losing someone you love is... it’s the hardest thing."
Miss J looked down at the small, delicate hand covering hers.
When she looked up, her eyes were bright, not with tears, but with something like wonder.
"You’re very special, Isabella," she said softly. "Do you know that?"
Bella blushed furiously. "I’m really not. I’m just... me."
"That’s exactly what makes you special." Miss J smiled, and this time it reached her eyes fully. "Never change."
William cleared his throat gently, drawing their attention. "Miss J, I don’t mean to interrupt, but I’ve been admiring your work for years. Would you perhaps be willing to tell us about the inspiration behind some of your pieces? The ones that aren’t too painful to discuss?"
Miss J laughed softly, some of the heaviness lifting. "Of course, sir. I’d be honored."
She turned to Bella. "Would you like to hear about them too?"
Bella nodded eagerly, scooting to the edge of her seat. "Yes, please!"
Miss J settled back into the couch, a thoughtful smile playing on her lips. The afternoon light filtered through the lounge windows, casting a warm glow around them.
"Which painting would you like to hear about first?" she asked, looking between William and Bella.
"The one with the woman standing at the window," Bella said immediately. "The one where she’s looking out at the rain. It’s called ’Waiting’ right?"
Miss J’s eyebrows rose slightly, impressed. "You know it?"
"I saw it when we first walked through. I couldn’t stop looking at it." Bella’s voice grew softer. "She looks so sad, but also... hopeful. Like she’s waiting for someone who promised to come back."
Miss J was quiet for a moment, studying Bella with new eyes.
"That’s exactly what it’s about," she said finally. "I painted it years ago, during a time when I was waiting for someone. Someone I wasn’t sure would ever return." She paused, her gaze turning inward. "Every day I stood at the window, watching the rain, watching the road, watching for any sign. The painting is all those days compressed into one moment."
Bella’s hand pressed to her chest. "That’s so beautiful. And so sad."
"It was both." Miss J smiled gently. "The waiting itself was painful, but the hope? The hope kept me alive."
William leaned forward. "And ’Stormy Eyes’? The one I mentioned earlier?"
