Buckets clanked against the floor as the three of them dragged their mops lazily across the basketball court. Isabella sighed for what felt like the tenth time in five minutes.
"Guys," she said, voice low. "There's something I've been meaning to say."
Elena dropped her mop dramatically. "Okay, spill it."
"My dad… wants me to get married."
The mop slipped from Leo's hands with a loud clatter. "What—what?" he stuttered.
"Yeah," Isabella sighed, brushing her hair off her face. "He sold me out."
Elena blinked. "To who?"
She shrugged. "Some mysterious man, apparently."
Elena's mouth fell open. "So you're actually gonna get married to him?"
"Never," Leo snapped before she could answer. "How much is the money? Remember—I'm rich. I can help you," he said, half panicked, half serious.
Elena grinned wide. "Oooooohhh…" she teased, dragging the sound.
Isabella and Elena burst into laughter. "Now you want to float your money in my face?" Isabella asked between chuckles.
"I'm damn serious," Leo said, his tone dropping as he looked straight at her.
That was when the laughter died down. Elena noticed the look Leo gave Isabella and smirked like she'd just uncovered a juicy secret. Isabella, of course, didn't notice a thing.
"No, I don't want to get you involved, dummy," Isabella said, rolling her eyes at Leo.
"What do you mean you don't want to get me involved?" he asked, his voice a mix of irritation and concern.
"My dad said he's a very powerful person, so…" she smirked, tossing the mop aside. "I got a perfect plan — and a perfect shield."
Elena tilted her head, her brows rising. "What do you mean?"
"I met Antonio Moretti," Isabella replied, her tone almost casual. "One or two things happened, and now we're kinda familiar with each other."
He folded his palm into a fist at his side, the veins on his arm standing out, his knuckles turning white as he tried as he tried to stay calm.
"So what does that have to do with this?" he asked, his voice dropping a little lower.
Elena noticed the way his jaw clenched, the faint flicker of jealousy burning behind his calm expression. She bit her lip to hide a smile, pretending to scrub the floor while secretly enjoying the silent storm brewing between them.
"Well, I want to use him," Isabella replied, her tone calm, almost playful.
"How?" Elena asked curiously.
"I made an offer… more like a request," Isabella said, twirling her hair between her fingers like it was nothing.
"And what was the request?" Leo asked, his patience clearly wearing thin.
"I asked him to marry me," she said casually.
"You what?!" Leo and Elena asked at once, their voices echoing across the empty basketball court.
Leo's eyes widened, disbelief and something else flickering behind them.
"What?" she fired back, crossing her arms.
"Do you even know what you're saying?" Elena asked, staring at her like she'd lost her mind.
"Yes — and he's the only person that can help me. We all know how dangerous he is," Isabella said firmly.
"How does that make sense to you?" Elena shot back, her voice rising in disbelief. Then she turned sharply to Leo. "Leon, why the fuck are you so quiet? You're not going to warn her about her childishness?" she asked, clearly frustrated.
"Why are you like this?" Isabella asked. "It's not like I'll get married to him forever. I'll just marry him and then we'll divorce after he helps me," she continued.
Leo's jaw tightened, and he shut his eyes for a few seconds, as if trying to calm himself.
"Are you crazy? Do you even know who you're trying to get entangled with?" he finally snapped.
Elena blinked, glancing between the two of them. The air felt heavier now, and she could practically sense Leo's anger rolling off him.
"Why are you snapping like that?" she asked, raising a brow.
Leo bites his lips, his voice sharp but low. "Because she's talking like this is some kind of game, Elly. We're talking about Antonio Moretti. He's not someone you 'use,' Isa. He's someone people avoid, someone that'll break you."
Isabella folded her arms, clearly unbothered. "You're overreacting."
"Overreacting?" he echoed, a humorless laugh escaping his lips. "You're walking into a lion's den, and you think I'm overreacting?"
Elena tried to step in. "Guys, can we not fight right now? We still have half the court to mop…"
"Then maybe she should mop some sense into her head while she's at it," Leo muttered, gripping the mop so tightly his knuckles whitened again.
Isabella shot him a glare. "You're not my father, Leonardo."
"Wow, not 'Nardo' anymore—it's Leonardo now?" he said bitterly. "You're giving me a cold shoulder just because I'm advising you?"
"No, I'm sorry, okay? You're not just getting the whole thing," Isabella said, her voice low. "I know you're worried about me. I know how much—"
"No, you know nothing!" Leo snapped, cutting her off. "If you really cared about how we feel, you would've told us before deciding anything. Before meeting some guy and getting close enough to volunteer to marry him, sheepishly."
"Leon, calm down," Elena tried to step in.
"No! Don't tell me to calm down." He pointed at Isabella. "I was watching you this morning, when you were daydreaming—pouting your lips and smiling like a baby who just got her favorite lollipop. Hold on…" He paused, realization dawning. "Don't tell me you're in love with him."
Isabella's eyes widened. "No… no, I'm not," she stuttered.
Elena looked at her keenly. "You like him, Ella."
"No! I said I don't like him!" she snapped.
"Oh really? But you're ready to tie the knot with him," Leo fired back.
"What do you expect me to do?" Isabella shouted, her voice breaking. "Do you think I'm happy with this decision? Do you think I ever planned for this? Do you think I'm this cheap—to just ask someone to marry me?"
Her hands trembled. Tears streamed down her face like rainfall. "You're not my father, Nardo… so stop trying to control me," she said, her voice shaking between anger and pain.
Leo ran his hand through his hair, looking down, disappointed in himself for making her cry. He sighed and took a few slow steps toward her.
Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. Isabella immediately clung to him, burying her face in his chest. He sighed again, his hand gently patting her hair.
"I'm sorry, Bell," he whispered. "I never planned to make you cry. I'm sorry for being an asshole. You know how much I hate it when you cry… please, stop crying. Please."
A tiny sniff left her lips before she nodded against his chest.
From behind them, a voice broke the silence.
"Wow… so the two of you decided to have a hugging moment without me?" Elena said, hands on her hips with a playful pout.
Leo and Isabella pulled apart immediately.
"Seriously?" Leo asked, glaring at her.
"What?" Elena grinned. "You know I love emotional scenes. Next time, just call me in—I'll bring tissues."
Isabella couldn't help but laugh through her tears, while Leo rolled his eyes and muttered, "You're unbelievable."
When they finally finished the punishment, the sun had already begun to sink, painting the court in shades of orange and gold. Leo tossed the mop aside, stretching his arms with a groan.
"Finally done," Elena muttered, wiping her forehead dramatically.
"Come on, I'll drop you girls off," Leo said, nodding toward the parking lot.
They followed him, chatting lazily as they walked. But as they got closer, Isabella's steps slowed. Her breath hitched.
Leaning casually against Leo's car, a cigarette between his fingers, was Antonio Moretti—his dark eyes fixed on her like a predator watching its prey.
"Long time no see, Le," Antonio said he in that low, lazy tone that carried authority. Without looking away from her.
"Yeah, right. It's been almost forever," Leo replied, his tone calm but his eyes fierce.
Antonio straightened, dropping the cigarette and crushing it beneath his shoe. His gaze never left Isabella.
"Piccola… vieni qui." (Little one… come here.)