His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.-Chapter 473 A Mother Made of Lies

Leo took another step, his presence dominating the space.

"Jessica and your father had arranged for a surrogate," he explained, his tone chillingly matter-of-fact. "But Jessica was already several months pregnant with Stella. She had no interest in carrying another child. So she instructed the surrogate to use the surrogate’s own egg. Her own DNA."

Jessica began shaking her head violently, fresh tears streaking her makeup. "That’s... that’s a lie—"

Leo paid her no mind.

"Biologically," he continued, his gaze never leaving Bella’s pale face, "she is Stella’s mother. But she is not, and never was, yours."

Jessica’s legs seemed to give out completely, and she sank fully to the floor, her facade crumbling into genuine despair.

"And before she took you," Leo added, his voice now as cold and unyielding as polished stone, "she dyed her hair. Chocolate brown, to match yours. It was all a costume, Bella. A trick to make you believe she was your mother. She wanted you emotionally bound to her, vulnerable and trusting, so she could use you. That is the entirety of her design."

Bella’s breath left her in a soft, trembling sigh. Her lower lip quivered faintly before she pressed them together, a single tear tracing a silent path down her cheek. She didn’t wipe it away.

Jessica, sobbing once more, whispered, "No... Bella, my darling girl... he’s twisting it all—"

But Bella did not look at her. Her eyes were downcast, fixed on a point on the floor.

She had spent a lifetime longing for a mother. She had cried for that ghost, dreamed of her embrace, built an entire childhood fantasy around that missing love.

So that’s why... The thought formed slowly in the stillness of her mind. That’s why I never felt any warmth from her. There was never a bond to break.

Leo moved to stand behind her, his large, steady hand coming to rest on her shoulder, a silent anchor in the storm.

"Bunny," he murmured, the word for her alone, gentle and firm. "She was never your mother. She was only ever your father’s wife. Nothing more."

Jessica let out a broken wail, stretching a trembling hand toward Bella’s feet desperately.

But Bella did not move. She stood perfectly still, her expression a tapestry of shock, dawning comprehension, and profound disorientation. The world had shifted on its axis too suddenly, and she was still trying to find her balance, her thoughts moving slowly, carefully.

Bella stared at Jessica, and her expression became a wave of cold disgust washing over her features. "You... you cheated on my father?" Her voice was thick, the words heavy in her throat. Her vision blurred at the edges, the room tilting slightly.

"No! He used to beat her!" Sam interjected, his jaw clenched tight. "Jessica was suffering, and I saved her."

Bella’s eyes snapped to Sam, her gaze sharpening through the haze. "My dad would never do that. Jessica lied to you." Her voice was firm, unshakable, as she looked back down at the woman crying on the floor.

She took a slow step forward, her eyes darkening with a mixture of pain and furious clarity. "Tell me the truth," she demanded, her voice low but clear. "Why did you do this to my dad? Did he ever lay a hand on you? I can’t believe it. You’re a smart businessman, Sam. You handle the underworld. Were you manipulated by her right from the start?"

Sam’s shoulders tensed. He could not meet her eyes. "I... I don’t know," he muttered, looking away.

And then Bella started feeling dizzy and weak. Her vision blurred at the edges, colors melting into each other. A soft ringing filled her ears.

"Leo..." she whispered, her voice barely holding together.

He rushed to her instantly, one arm sliding around her waist before she could collapse, pulling her tightly against him. "Bunny? Hey—look at me," he murmured, trying to steady her.

But she shook her head weakly, her fingers clutching his shirt with trembling desperation. "I... I don’t want to see her... or them... please... take them away..." Her voice broke, each word falling softer, as if her strength was slipping through her fingers.

Leo’s breath hitched. And then her body went limp.

"Bella!" He caught her fully before she hit the floor, lifting her into his arms as if she weighed nothing. For a heartbeat, his heart stopped, a cold fear darting through his veins.

"Doctor, now!" Leo’s voice erupted through the house, deep and furious and terrified all at once. "Call the doctor—right now!"

Jay, Jace, and every guard in the room jolted.

"Handle everything," he snapped at Jay and Jace, his tone sharp.

"Yes, bro—go!" Jay said immediately.

Leo didn’t waste another second. He carried Bella into the nearest room, holding her close against his chest, her head resting on his shoulder as he whispered, "You’re safe, bunny... I’m right here. Just stay with me."

He laid her gently on the bed, brushing her hair away from her pale face, his jaw clenching as he called for the doctor again, this time with a trembling he couldn’t hide.

Leo sat on the edge of the bed, elbows resting on his knees, his fingers trembling as they held Bella’s small hand. The room was quiet except for her soft, uneven breaths. He brushed his thumb over her knuckles, and the way her hand didn’t squeeze back made something deep inside his chest crack open with helpless fear.

He bowed his head, touching her fingers to his lips, breathing her in as if that alone could steady him. "I’m stupid..." he whispered, his voice raw. "I’m such a stupid man, bunny."

His words trembled as they left him.

"She was finally recovering... finally smiling again... and I should’ve protected that smile. I should’ve handled everything quietly. You didn’t need this pain today... not after everything Alan did... not after what those two demons already put you through."

His breath shook, his shoulders tight as if holding in a storm.

"I should’ve thought before acting... I should’ve shielded you from all of this."

He lifted her hand again and pressed a long, soft kiss against her fingers, his lips lingering there as if apologizing to her skin. The guilt clawed at him so sharply he felt it in his bones.

Behind him, Alessandro and Lina stood by the door, their eyes filled with heartbreak as they watched their son fall apart. Lina covered her mouth, blinking back tears at the sight of Bella lying so still, and Alessandro placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, though his own eyes looked pained.

They had never seen Leo like this.

Never seen him so scared.

Never seen him so close to breaking.

"Bella..." he whispered again, his voice barely holding together. "My Bella... open your eyes... please."

His eyes turned glassy. He lowered his forehead to the back of her hand, holding her as if she were the most fragile thing in the world.

He stayed like that, breathing in her warmth.