The auction hall still buzzed from the gavel's final strike when a soft rustling stirred the air.
Lewis adjusted the sleeping toddler in his arms—Leo's tousled curls brushing against his jaw. The boy's tiny fingers curled instinctively around the fabric of Lewis's jacket.
Slowly, Leo's big eyes opened, wide and curious, scanning the sea of strangers.
Then, as if drawn by some unseen magnet, his gaze locked on Bella.
With pure, innocent clarity, Leo's small voice rang out, loud and clear:
"Mine! Mommy! Dada!"
The words cracked through the room's tense veneer like a grenade.
Gasps rippled through the crowd, heads whipped toward them, and flashing cameras exploded in bursts of light.
Whispers swelled—half shocked, half entertained—while Bella's sharp breath caught in her throat.
The boy's gaze was steady, his smile untouched by the harsh games of power and rivalry that filled the room.
Lewis's eyes flicked to Bella with a slow, amused smirk—part challenge, part silent dare.
He said nothing, but his smirk spoke volumes.
Bella's glare was ice cold, but Leo's innocent declaration had fractured her carefully built wall, if only for a moment.
Before the rising chaos could spiral further, Lewis's voice cut through the murmurs:
"Security."
Two large men in dark suits appeared instantly, moving through the crowd like shadows.
They stepped in smoothly, guiding Bella out amid the whirl of whispers and flashing phones.
Lewis tightened his hold on Leo, who giggled softly, oblivious to the tension surrounding him.
Outside, the city's night air buzzed with distant horns and neon signs.
Bella strode purposefully, but not toward Elden Hollow or her stepfamily's mansion. Instead, she turned down a bustling street, headed for a hotel where she'd lay low, away from enemies and fake smiles.
Lewis followed at a measured pace, still smirking, eyes sharp.
Not your home. He thought, amused and watchful.
Leo wriggled in his arms, reaching up to touch Lewis's face, innocent and unaware of the storm brewing between the two adults.
Lewis's smirk deepened, knowing this game was far from over—and that the boy's simple words had just thrown a wrench into their carefully poised rivalry.
Bella's pov:
The gavel's final bang still echoed when Leo stirred in Lewis's arms.
His dark curls brushed Lewis's cheek as the boy's eyes opened and landed on me.
Then, with innocent clarity, Leo declared loudly, "Mine! Mommy! Dada!"
My breath caught. The sudden sound shattered the room's tense calm and dragged every eye toward them.
For a moment, my sharp gaze softened, surprised by the boy's pure innocence.
My heart fluttered briefly—an unexpected warmth I tried to ignore.
But then Lewis's amused smirk caught my eye.
Not now. Not here.
Lewis called security, and two men appeared, quickly guiding me away from the growing chaos.
As i stepped outside, the night air was cool but my pulse raced.
I noticed Lewis watching me , still holding the boy .
I turned sharply, avoiding his gaze, and i headed toward the hotel—not the stepfamily's estate.
I'm not going home. Not yet.