Leo’s expression didn’t change. But his eyes narrowed. His jaw tightened, just slightly.

Without a word, he opened the door and stepped out of the car.

The driver blinked. "Sir—"

Leo didn’t respond. He walked toward the campus gates, his strides long, his posture rigid. He pulled out his phone and dialed his head of security.

"Where is the football field?" he asked.

"Behind the science building, sir. I can send someone to—"

"I’ll find it."

He hung up.

The guards stationed near the entrance straightened when they saw him approaching. They had seen him angry before. They had seen him cold. They didn’t know what this was.

Leo walked past them without acknowledging their presence.

Leo walked through the campus, his strides long and purposeful, his black shirt stretching across his broad shoulders. The afternoon sun caught the sharp angles of his face, highlighting his clenched jaw and the cold intensity in his gray eyes. His dark hair fell across his forehead, and his tall, muscular physique drew attention everywhere he went.

Girls stopped mid sentence. Conversations faltered. Heads turned.

He didn’t notice. Or if he did, he didn’t care.

His jaw was tight, his hands in his pockets, his posture rigid. He was looking for his wife.

He walked faster.

The football field came into view, green grass, white lines, a crowd of students scattered across the bleachers. Leo frowned. The field was too open. Too many people. Too many young, energetic boys running around with their shirts clinging to their chests.

He stopped at the edge of the field, scanning the crowd.

A group of students stood nearby, talking and laughing. He approached them.

"Excuse me," he said.

The group turned. A guy with messy hair and a backpack glanced at him, then looked away, not realizing Leo was speaking to him.

Krystal heard.

She turned, her eyes landing on the man standing a few feet away. Her breath caught.

He was tall, broad shouldered. His black shirt fit him like it had been tailored specifically for his body, hugging his chest, his arms, his narrow waist. His jaw was sharp and clenched, and his gray eyes, God, his eyes, were the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. They looked almost silver in the sunlight, cold and intense and utterly captivating.

His dark hair fell across his forehead, and his whole presence radiated power, control, and danger.

Krystal couldn’t look away. Her heart pounded. Her mouth went dry.

She had seen handsome men before. She had been with handsome men before. But this was different. This was the kind of handsome that made you forget how to breathe.

Leo’s gaze swept over the group, landed on Krystal for a fraction of a second, and moved on. His expression didn’t change. If anything, his frown deepened.

He spotted Bella.

She was on the bleachers, bouncing on her feet, her hands cupped around her mouth. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and her cheeks were flushed with excitement. She was cheering.

"Go, Karl! GO!"

Leo’s jaw tightened.

He walked toward her, his strides long and quick. Students moved out of his way without realizing they were doing it. His presence was magnetic, pulling attention, but his focus was singular.

He reached Bella just as she finished another bounce. His hand caught her waist, pulling her gently against him.

"Bunny," he said.

Bella turned, her face lighting up. "Leo!"

She threw her arms around his neck, and he caught her, his hands settling on her hips. She smelled like sunshine and something sweet. Her eyes were bright, her smile wide.

"What are you watching?" he asked, looking at the field with obvious displeasure.

The boys on the field were tall, athletic, full of youthful energy. They ran and kicked and shouted, their shirts damp with sweat. A few girls in the stands screamed every time someone scored.

One of the players lifted his shirt to wipe his face, revealing a toned stomach.

Leo’s eyes narrowed.

"Football!" Bella said, bouncing again. "It’s interesting! I like it."

She grabbed his hands, pulling him closer.

Leo looked at the field, at the boys, at the one who had just flashed his stomach. He said with disdain, "These boys look like someone handed a football to kids."

Bella didn’t notice the jealousy in his voice. She was too busy watching the game.

On the bleachers, Krystal watched.

She had followed Leo with her eyes as he walked across the field, dismissing everyone in his path, ignoring the stares and whispers. She had watched him approach Bella, watched him pull her close, watched the way her face lit up when she saw him.

Her hands curled into fists.

"Does your friend know such a hot guy?" she asked, her voice dripping with jealousy.

Mira glanced at her, confused. "What?"

Krystal didn’t answer. She was staring at Bella and Leo.

Leo stood beside Bella, his arm still around her waist, his gray eyes fixed on the field with an intensity that had nothing to do with football. He was angry. Not at her, never at her, but at the situation. At the boys running around in their shorts, at the way Bella’s eyes followed the ball, at the way she cheered when someone scored.

He had been angry for two minutes, maybe three. He had stopped counting.

He used to play football. He had been good at it, fast, strategic, unstoppable. He also had excellent swimming skills. He knew how to move his body, how to command attention, how to make people watch.

But here he was, standing on the sidelines, while some college boys showed off for his wife.

He needed to bleach her mind. Replace those images with something else. Something better. Something that only he could provide.

"Let’s watch a little bit more," Bella said happily, her eyes still on the field.

Leo obeyed. Because she asked. Because he couldn’t say no to her.

But he didn’t have to be quiet about it.

"That pass was terrible," he said, his voice low and critical. "He passed too late. The defender was already in position."

Bella nodded. "You’re right."

"The striker’s positioning is wrong. He’s standing flat footed. Any decent defender would have intercepted that."

Bella nodded again. "Mm hmm."

"The goalkeeper reacted too slowly. His weight was on his heels, not his toes. Basic mistake."

Bella glanced at him. "You know a lot about football."

"I used to play."

"You never told me that."

"You never asked."

She smiled and turned back to the game.

Leo continued. "That tackle was reckless. He could have been carded. See how he led with his studs? Poor technique."

"Uh huh."

"That shot was weak. No power. No placement. The goalkeeper should have saved it."

"Right."

Leo’s arm tightened around her waist. "I could teach you how to play. Properly. Not whatever this is."

Bella looked at him, her eyes sparkling. "You would teach me?"

"I would teach you many things," he said as he looked at her meaningfully.

She laughed. She didn’t notice and leaned into him.

On the field, Karl scored another goal. Bella cheered. Leo’s jaw tightened.

But he kept pointing out mistakes. And Bella kept agreeing.

She thought he was right. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

She had no idea he was jealous.