His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.-Chapter 514 Empty

"That man doesn’t host parties without a reason," Alexa said, narrowing her eyes while rubbing her belly. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"That’s what I thought too," the assistant nodded eagerly. "So I... um... I may have pushed a little. I contacted Mr. Archer and somehow managed to squeeze your name onto the list."

Alexa slowly looked up at her, surprise flashing across her face before melting into something thoughtful. "You did?" she asked.

"Yes," the assistant said proudly. "I told him it would be good for your public image. A respected actress, pregnant, still invited to high-profile family events. He didn’t object."

A faint smile curved Alexa’s lips. "Interesting," she murmured.

Her gaze drifted away, unfocused now, her mind already racing. William Warren Wilson was not someone who acted casually. If he was throwing a party now, it meant something important was about to be revealed.

"Do we know when?" Alexa asked softly.

"Not the exact date yet," the assistant replied. "But very soon. Preparations have already started."

Alexa leaned back in her chair, her smile deepening, eyes dark with quiet calculation. "Good," she said. "Make sure I’m ready. If I’m going there, I won’t be forgettable."

The assistant nodded quickly. "Of course, ma’am."

As the assistant turned to leave, Alexa’s hand tightened slightly over her stomach, her thoughts drifting to a familiar name.

Bella.

The name echoed in Alexa’s mind.

Her fingers curled slowly against her palm, nails pressing into her skin as the memory surfaced uninvited. Last time, that little bitch had ruined everything. Her image. Her dignity. Her standing. Reduced her to a humiliation so deep she could still feel it crawling under her skin. The stench. The laughter she had swallowed. The way people had looked at her as if she were nothing.

Made her scrub toilets.

Alexa’s jaw tightened, her lips pressing into a thin, controlled line. No one had dared do that to her before. No one had gotten away with it either.

Her eyes lifted to the mirror, meeting her own reflection. The woman staring back was not weak. She was not broken. She was still beautiful. Still desired. Still powerful enough to turn any situation to her advantage.

This time would be different.

This time, she would not react. She would not rush. She would not make careless mistakes driven by anger. She would smile. She would play her role perfectly. She would walk into that grand party glowing, admired, pitied if necessary.

And slowly, carefully, she would restore her reputation.

Piece by piece.

Bella might have won once. Alexa admitted that much, her lips curving into a cold, humorless smile.

But this time, she would make sure Bella paid for it in ways no one else could see coming.

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

"I’m sure I’ll come back soon, before the event," Leo had said.

Bella kept replaying those words in her mind, especially during the quiet moments. Even though she tried to stay busy, the absence of the space he usually filled could be felt everywhere. Mornings felt a little emptier. Nights were a little quieter. She missed him more than she had expected, in small ways that caught her off guard, like reaching for her phone just to see his name or glancing toward the door out of habit.

The house, however, had not stayed quiet for long.

The past few days had been busy enough to keep her from drowning in that feeling. Jay, Jace, and Nonna had come to visit her and William, their shock still written clearly on their faces when they learned the truth. Nonna had cried, held Bella’s face between her palms, and kept calling her "my child" in that soft, trembling voice. Alessandro and Lina arrived soon after, both visibly moved in their own quiet ways, struggling to accept that the girl they loved as family was now tied to a name with such a powerful presence.

Bella found herself repeating the same explanations, answering the same questions, reassuring everyone that she was fine, that she was safe, and that nothing had changed about who she was. Even her friends were shocked when they heard the news, their messages filled with disbelief and hurried concern. It felt strange being at the center of something so big, something that seemed to ripple outward and affect everyone around her.

Today, she and Scarlett had come out together for shopping, not for her, but for Scarlett. William had already arranged Bella’s dress with a designer, every detail decided with almost comical seriousness.

Scarlett stepped out of the fitting room, turning slightly in front of the mirror. The green dress hugged her figure beautifully, the color rich and deep, making her tan skin glow under the boutique lights. She tilted her head, studying her reflection, then glanced at Bella through the mirror.

"Is this good?" Scarlett asked, a hint of uncertainty slipping into her voice.

Bella smiled immediately, her eyes lighting up. "It looks amazing on you," she said honestly, standing up to get a better look. "That color suits your skin so well. It makes you look confident, like you own the room."

Scarlett’s lips curved into a pleased grin. "You think so?"

"I know so," Bella replied, reaching out to smooth a small crease near Scarlett’s waist. "You do not even need accessories. The dress already does all the talking."

Scarlett laughed softly, shoulders relaxing as she turned back to the mirror. "Coming from you, I will take that seriously."

"Okay, okay, let’s try another one too," Bella said with a soft laugh, lifting the next dress from her arms.

Scarlett reached out and took it from her hands, a stunning silver piece that shimmered faintly under the boutique lights, the fabric catching every movement like liquid moonlight. The dress looked elegant and bold at the same time, with a sleek cut.

"This one looks dangerous," Scarlett joked, raising a brow as she held it up against herself.

Bella smiled, eyes bright with excitement. "It looks like something you would wear when you want everyone to stop and stare," she teased gently. "Silver suits you too. It will make you glow."

Scarlett chuckled, already turning toward the fitting room. "If I come out looking like a disco ball, I am blaming you."

"I will take full responsibility," Bella said playfully, sinking back onto the sofa as she watched her friend disappear behind the curtain.