His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.-Chapter 596 Where were they?

"I would like to see that too, sir," David said quietly.

"And you will," William replied with calm certainty.

He slowly pushed himself up from the swing, his joints protesting slightly but still obeying him.

"Now help me inside," he said with a gentle laugh. "The air is getting cold, and this old man would very much like his dinner."

David smiled and offered his arm.

William accepted it, leaning slightly but walking steadily as they made their way toward the house. The garden lights had begun to glow softly along the path, and as they walked, David asked him more questions about his childhood in the village.

William answered each one with fond amusement.

Two more days until Bella arrived, and his heart felt young again.

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

Leo was in an emergency meeting that had been called suddenly about a shipment issue and a rival family testing boundaries. He had kissed Bella’s forehead, promised to be back as soon as possible, and disappeared into one of the resort’s private conference rooms with a handful of grim-faced men.

That had been two hours ago.

Bella was bored.

She sat on the edge of the bed in her white dress, a soft flowing thing that fell just above her knees, with delicate straps and a skirt that swayed when she moved. She had put it on thinking they might do something together today. Maybe explore more of the mountain. Maybe have another quiet lunch overlooking the valley.

Instead, she had been staring at the same wall for forty-five minutes. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

She stood up. Sat down. Stood up again.

Maybe a walk would help.

She slipped out of the room, her sandals quiet against the hallway floor. The resort was peaceful at this hour. Most guests were at lunch or on excursions, and the only sounds were distant chatter and the soft hum of maintenance work.

Her mind wandered to Jay and Jace.

She had not seen them since yesterday. They had been acting strange lately, always disappearing and exchanging looks she could not read. Leo had noticed too, she could tell, but he had not said anything.

Where were they?

Curiosity tugged at her feet, guiding her down the corridor toward their rooms. They were staying in a connecting suite on the third floor. Two bedrooms with a shared living area, close to the family block but slightly separate.

She knocked on the door.

Nothing.

She knocked again, louder this time.

Still nothing.

Bella’s brow furrowed. She pressed her ear gently against the wood, holding her breath as she listened for any movement on the other side.

Nothing.

No footsteps. No voices. No rustling sounds.

The room was completely silent, as if no one was inside.

A small worry curled in her chest. They had been gone so much lately. They always seemed lost in something, distracted and distant. Jay had not made a single joke in months. Jace had not smiled once.

Something was wrong.

She turned from the door, deciding to check the lower levels or the gardens. Anywhere they might be hiding.

Then she heard it.

Voices. Raised. Angry.

Coming from the stairwell at the end of the hall.

Bella’s feet moved before she consciously decided to follow. She walked quietly, her sandals making soft whispers against the marble floor, until she reached the heavy door to the stairwell. It was slightly open.

The voices were clearer now.

"I told you!" That was Jay. Loud and frustrated. "Stop thinking about it!"

"I can’t!" Jace’s voice was raw with something that sounded like pain. "I shouldn’t have to. I can’t believe it."

"Then don’t. Just stop!"

"No! I can’t stop! I don’t know how to tell Bella and Leo! I feel sick just thinking about it!"

Bella’s heart clenched. Tell her what? What was so terrible that Jay felt sick?

"Stop it!" Jace shouted.

"No!"

A thud followed. Then a crash. The sound of a body hitting the wall.

Bella pushed the door open without thinking.

And froze.

Jace had Jay pinned against the wall. One hand gripped Jay’s shoulder while the other was fisted in his shirt. Their faces were inches apart, both flushed, both breathing hard.

Then Jace leaned forward and kissed him.

Hard. Desperate. Like he had been holding back for years and could not anymore.

"What!" The exclamation burst from Bella’s lips before she could stop it.

Both froze.

Jay’s eyes widened in shock as they darted toward her over Jace’s shoulder. Jace’s whole body went rigid. He pulled back slowly, his face shifting through shock, horror, and something that looked painfully close to shame.

The stairwell fell completely silent.

Bella stood in the doorway with one hand still on the handle. Her heart was pounding so loudly she was sure they could hear it.

Jay opened his mouth. Closed it. Then opened it again.

"Bella," he croaked. "It’s not... we’re not... I can explain."

Jace said nothing. He simply stood there, still pressed against Jay, looking at her.

The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.

Bella did not move.

She did not know what to say.

She did not know what to think.

"Let’s talk in the room," Bella said finally, taking a deep breath and forcing her voice to stay steady. Her heart was still racing and her mind spinning, but she knew this was not a conversation for a stairwell where anyone could walk in.

Jay and Jace obeyed silently, shuffling past her like two guilty children caught stealing cookies. Neither of them met her eyes.

Bella followed them down the hall to their suite and waited as Jace fumbled with the key card. His hands were shaking. She noticed.

The door clicked open and they stepped inside.

"Close it," Bella said quietly.

Jace obeyed.

The suite was nice. Two bedrooms opened off a small living area with a couch, a table, and a window overlooking the mountains.

Bella pointed toward the edge of the bed.

"Sit."

They sat.

Both of them. Side by side. Shoulders tense. Hands resting awkwardly in their laps. They looked like they were about to be sentenced.

Bella stood in front of them with her arms crossed, one hand tapping lightly against her elbow. Her white dress suddenly felt wrong for this conversation. Too soft. Too gentle. She needed armor.

"Now tell me what is going on," she said firmly. "From what I just saw, how Jace was kissing you, I can already understand that the two of you are in a relationship."

Jay’s face turned red. He glanced at Jace and then back at Bella.

"Yeah," he admitted quietly. Shyly. Like he was confessing to a crime.

Bella’s heart did a small flip. Inside, she was screaming with happiness. Jay and Jace together made perfect sense. The way they always gravitated toward each other, the inside jokes, the silent communication between them. They fit together naturally.

But she kept her face serious. There was something more here. She could feel it.

"But what is wrong with you two lately?" she pressed. "Always hiding, disappearing, acting strange. Jay, you haven’t made a single joke in a while. Jace, you look like you haven’t slept in a week." Her eyes moved between them. "Something is wrong. Tell me."

Jace bit his lip hard. His knuckles turned white where he gripped his own knees.

"Because..." he began, then trailed off as he glanced at Jay.

Jay gave a small nod of encouragement.

Jace took a shaky breath.

"Because there’s a problem."

Bella’s stomach tightened.

"What problem?"