His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.

Chapter 842: Chapter 842 Visiting Dr. Vance’s office

Leo’s heart ached. He could feel her fear radiating through her trembling body. He wrapped both arms around her and gently kissed the top of her head.

"You don’t have to answer anything you don’t want to."

Bella buried her face deeper against his chest.

Leo continued holding her, his hand moving in slow, soothing circles on her back.

"We’ll go together," he said softly. "And if at any point you feel uncomfortable, we’ll leave. No questions asked. I promise."

Bella was silent for a long moment. Her grip on his shirt slowly loosened.

"...Really?" Her voice was small and uncertain.

Leo nodded. "Really."

Bella looked up at him. Her eyes were still red and swollen but something in them had shifted. A small spark of trust.

"...Okay." She whispered.

Leo smiled. "Okay."

He kissed her forehead again.

"Thank you for trusting me, bunny."

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

The atmosphere inside the old Moretti mansion had changed completely.

The cheerful laughter that usually echoed through the halls had disappeared, replaced by an unsettling silence. The servants moved quietly, their footsteps softer than usual, as if afraid to disturb the fragile peace.

Even the sunlight streaming through the tall windows seemed dimmer, less warm. The flowers in the vases appeared to droop, as if they felt sadness too.

Everyone’s heart ached.

Bella... The girl who used to greet everyone with a bright smile had become frighteningly quiet.

She wouldn’t speak to anyone except Leo.

Jay had tried several times.

Jay crouched in front of her with his usual cheerful smile, his voice light and playful. "Bella? Do you remember me?"

Bella simply looked at him with frightened eyes before instinctively hiding behind Leo’s shoulder. Her fingers curled into Leo’s sleeve, her whole body tense. Her breathing became shallow and rapid.

She didn’t answer.

Jay’s smile slowly disappeared. His eyes flickered with pain, but he forced himself to keep his voice gentle.

"...It’s me. Your Jay Jay. We watched movies together. We used to have fun together. Remember our top secret when Leo was away on a business trip? That time we tried to bake cookies and set off the smoke alarm? We had to open all the windows and fan the smoke out with towels."

Nothing.

Bella only tightened her grip on Leo’s sleeve. Her gaze remained fixed on the floor, as if she couldn’t bear to look at anyone else.

Jay quietly lowered his head. "...I see."

He forced himself to smile before standing up. "I’ll leave you alone."

The moment he turned around, the sadness on his face became impossible to hide. His shoulders slumped, his jaw tight. He blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay.

Seeing her like this... broke everyone’s heart.

Lina had tried to sit with her, offering coffee and gentle words. Bella had flinched when Lina reached out to touch her hand, pulling away as if burned.

Alessandro had attempted to engage her in conversation about the garden and sweets, a topic she usually loved. Bella had simply stared at the wall, her eyes empty.

Nonna had brought her favorite cookies, the ones she always asked for. Bella hadn’t even looked at them. The plate sat untouched on the table beside her.

William had tried to tell her a story about her grandmother. Bella had started crying. Silent tears that streamed down her cheeks without explanation.

The only person Bella would acknowledge was Leo.

If Leo left the room for even a minute, Bella became restless, searching for him with frightened eyes until he returned. She refused to let go of his hand. She refused to eat unless he sat beside her. She refused to sleep unless he was holding her.

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

After getting her ready with difficulty, within the hour, he personally drove Bella to Dr. Vance’s clinic.

The journey itself only deepened his concern.

Several times Bella looked out of the car window before suddenly asking, "...Where are we going?"

Leo answered gently. "To see Dr. Vance."

Only a few minutes later, she asked the exact same question again and again.

Sometimes she would look around the familiar streets with complete confusion. "Have we been here before?"

Other times she would quietly study her own hands as though they belonged to someone else.

Leo noticed something terrifying.

She forgot things almost instantly. Simple conversations. Where they were going. What she had asked only moments earlier.

Yet...

There were two things she never forgot.

Him.

And the fact that he was her husband.

Every few minutes, she would softly ask, "...You’re Leo, right?"

The moment he nodded, her anxious expression immediately relaxed. "My husband..." she whispered, almost as if reminding herself. Then she would gently hold his arm again. As long as she knew he was there, she felt safe.

Leo’s grip on the steering wheel tightened.

His heart grew heavier with every passing minute.

When they finally arrived, he helped Bella out of the car. She instinctively wrapped both hands around his arm, refusing to let go.

Together, they entered Dr. Vance’s office.

The room was spacious and brightly lit. Large bookshelves lined one wall, filled with thick medical journals and psychology texts. Several computer monitors displayed brain scans, while shelves nearby held anatomical models of the human brain, nervous system, and skull. Modern diagnostic equipment stood neatly arranged around the room, giving the office a calm yet professional atmosphere.

Dr. Ethan Vance, a forty-one-year-old specialist with years of clinical experience, looked up from his desk as they entered. He had kind eyes and a calm aura that usually put patients at ease.

His sharp eyes immediately noticed how tightly Bella clung to Leo’s arm. He also noticed that she hadn’t looked around the room at all. Her gaze was fixed on Leo, as if he was the only safe thing in the world.

He offered a warm smile.

"Hello, Bella."

She lowered her gaze.

No response.

Dr. Vance wasn’t surprised. He had seen this before—patients who retreated into themselves, who could only trust one person.

He spoke gently. "May I ask you something?"

Still nothing.

"What is your name?"

Bella remained completely silent.

She only tightened her hold on Leo.

Dr. Vance nodded thoughtfully before changing his approach.

"What is your husband’s name?"

Almost instantly, Bella looked up. Her frightened eyes brightened just a little.

"...Leo."

Her answer came immediately. Without hesitation.

Leo’s expression subtly changed.

She remembered him. Perfectly.

Dr. Vance made a small note before smiling again. "Very good."

He continued softly. "And do you know your own name?"