When Leo came home, he went straight upstairs. From his room, the faint sound of running water could be heard as he took his usual bath.
8:45 PM
When he came down for dinner, he looked calm and collected.
Bella, however, was far from calm. The moment he sat beside her at the long dining table, her whole body went stiff. She tried to steady her hands, but her spoon rattled against the bowl. Her heart thumped wildly, and she could barely look up at him.
"Eat," Leo said simply, his tone firm yet casual, as though it was the most natural command in the world.
Bella nodded quickly, muttering a small, shy, "Thank you," before she lowered her gaze to her plate. She pushed her food around more than she ate it, every movement betraying her nerves. Leo noticed, of course, and for a second he wondered if it was simply because she wasn't used to having him so close.
