His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.

Chapter 770 Crush

9:55 PM

Students filed out of the auditorium in clusters, their voices still buzzing with shock and excitement. Parents hugged their children, some crying, some laughing, some just shaking their heads in disbelief. The principal and his team huddled near the stage, their faces pale, their voices low, already planning the investigation that would begin tomorrow.

Karl and Bella stood near the back of the auditorium, away from the crowd, away from the noise. Karl’s hands were shoved into his pockets, his white shirt now wrinkled, his dark hair still slightly damp from sweat. He was grinning, wide and satisfied, his dark eyes sparkling with triumph.

"Thank God Krystal was exposed," he said. "I thought she was going to talk her way out of it. For a moment, when she started crying, I actually thought people might believe her again."

Bella nodded, smiling.

"People did believe her," she said. "For a minute but then the evidence came out."

"The evidence you prepared, right?" Karl looked at her with admiration. "You did all of that? The bank statements? The videos? The testimony from Zara?"

Bella shrugged, but her smile widened. "I had help."

"From who?"

"A friend."

Karl shook his head, still grinning. "You’re terrifying, you know that?"

"I’ve been told."

They laughed together.

"Argh!" Karl ran a hand through his hair, his expression shifting to frustration. "You deserve that placement. Not Krystal. You did all the work. You should be the one up there, accepting the award, getting the internship."

Bella’s smile faded slightly. "It doesn’t matter now."

"It does matter. You worked hard."

"And Krystal was exposed. That’s enough for now."

Karl sighed, but he didn’t argue. "You’ll get another chance. There will be other opportunities. You’re too talented to be ignored."

Bella opened her mouth to respond, but before she could speak, she felt a presence behind her.

Warm and familiar.

She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

Leo’s arm slid around her waist, pulling her back against his chest. Her back bumped against his front, and she felt the steady beat of his heart through his suit jacket. His body was warm and solid.

He smiled at Karl.

It was a small smile, polite and controlled but it did not reach his eyes. His gray eyes were cold, assessing, calculating. He was sizing Karl up, taking in his height, his build, his face, his clothes.

"You’re Bella’s friend, Karl?" Leo said. His voice was smooth and pleasant. "She talks about you. She says you’re a good friend."

Karl blinked, confused. He looked at Leo, then at Bella, then back at Leo. His brow furrowed. His hands came out of his pockets.

"Uh... yes. I’m Karl." He extended his hand. "Nice to meet you...?"

Leo did not take his hand. He kept his arm around Bella’s waist, his grip firm and possessive.

Bella glanced up at Leo, then back at Karl. Her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Well," she said, "this is a secret, but... he’s my husband."

Karl’s eyes widened.

His mouth fell open. His hand dropped to his side. He stared at Leo, then at Bella, then back at Leo.

"Your... husband?" His voice was high, disbelieving.

Bella nodded.

Karl took a step back, his eyes sweeping over Leo in shock. The man was even more intimidating up close: broad shoulders, sharp jaw, gray eyes that seemed to see right through him. Karl felt small and insignificant like a mouse being watched by a hawk.

"I am her husband," Leo said, his voice deep. He kissed Bella’s temple, soft and slow, his lips lingering on her skin. "I didn’t want to affect her college experience with marital status, so we hid it. Though it was not top secret."

Karl’s mind spun circles around his words. Husband. Married. Hidden.

She was married.

She was married.

She was married.

Leo looked down at Bella, his gray eyes softening. "Let’s go, Bunny." Then he looked at Karl. "Should we drop you?"

Karl shook his head quickly, maybe too quickly. "No. No, thanks. I have a ride."

His voice was low, barely audible. He didn’t trust himself to speak louder.

Leo smiled at him. It was a small smile and polite but there was satisfaction beneath it.

Then he took Bella’s hand and led her away.

Karl watched them go. Bella glanced back once, her brown eyes soft, apologetic. She raised her hand in a small wave.

Karl did not wave back.

He stood there frozen as they disappeared into the crowd. Leo’s guards fell into step around them, creating a bubble of space that no one dared enter. The last thing Karl saw was Bella’s brown hair disappearing through the exit.

Then they were gone.

Karl exhaled.

His shoulders sagged. His hands, which had been clenched at his sides, relaxed. His heart, which had been pounding, slowed to a dull aching thud.

"Thank God," he muttered to himself, leaning against the cold wall. "Thank God it was just a crush."

He tilted his head back and stared at the ceiling. The lights were too bright, making his eyes water.

"I haven’t fallen deeper," he whispered. "It was just a small crush, ended before it started."

He thought about Bella. Her smile. The way she bit her lip when she was concentrated. Her kindness, her strength, how she handled everything.

But it was only a crush. It had to be. He hadn’t known her that long. He hadn’t confessed. He hadn’t been rejected. He could still walk away with his pride intact.

He laughed bitterly, the sound hollow in the empty hallway.

"All the girls I like end up in relationships," he said to no one. "Every single time."

The first had been in middle school. A girl named Leah with braids and a gap-toothed smile. He had carried her books for a week before she started dating the class president.

The second had been in high school. A girl named Sophie who sat next to him in biology. They had dissected frogs together. She had a boyfriend from another school.

The third had been a junior. A girl named Emma who played soccer. He had watched her from the bleachers for an entire season before he found out she was dating the captain of the team.

The fourth had been senior year. A girl named Maya who worked at the coffee shop near his house. He had practiced ordering complicated drinks just to talk to her. She was engaged.

And now Bella. She was married.

Karl pushed off the wall and started walking toward the exit. His footsteps echoed in the empty hallway.

"At this point," he muttered, "I’m just going to stop falling in love altogether."

He pushed open the door and stepped outside. The night air was cold and sharp, waking him up.

"Focus on my career," he said to the stars. "Build my future. Forget about relationships."

He walked toward the parking lot, his hands in his pockets, his head down.