Chapter 229 How Do Your Lives Stack up Against That
The water in the hot spring pool was clear. Leo had already entered the water, while Isabella stood on the shore, looking around.
The water rippled as Leo stood in the pool, reaching out his hand. "Bella?"
Isabella hesitated for a moment but eventually extended her hand.
She stood on the steps in the water, the warm water covering her calves.
Leo reached out to take the towel wrapped around her, but Isabella shrank back.
Leo laughed. "You don't plan to soak like this, do you?"
Isabella was wearing a swimsuit underneath and had draped a large bath towel over herself when she left the room. Only her legs were exposed.
"What's wrong with soaking like this?" Isabella retorted, clutching the corner of the towel even tighter, her eyes filled with wariness as she gazed at Leo.
Marriage was a reluctant decision for her, and she certainly didn't plan to do anything more with him.
"Fine." Leo withdrew his hand. "As long as you're happy."
The hot spring was surrounded by trees, and as night fell, the small night lights in the roadside bushes lit up. The surrounding light was dim, enveloping the rare tranquility.
The warm water made the body feel soft.
Isabella, who hadn't rested well since giving birth, began to sweat lightly within half an hour.
The water rippled as Leo approached.
Isabella's eyes widened, instantly becoming alert.
But Leo only handed her a cup of steaming coffee. "It was just brewed. Drink some to sweat it out."
"Thank you." Isabella indeed felt very thirsty, but she was afraid of falling into a trap. So, although she took the cup, she didn't drink it and just held it in her hand.
Leo glanced at her, then poured himself a few cups and drank them down. He leaned back and gazed at the dim forest, asking, "Isabella, do you know what Charles has planned for us tonight?"
Isabella was startled and looked at him in confusion.
Leo smiled and continued, "This seemingly deserted hotel is actually full of eyes. From the moment we entered the hotel, countless photos have been taken of us. Even our every move here in the hot spring is being captured."
Isabella felt a pang of unease. She glanced around but saw only the tranquil darkness of the night.
Yet, it felt as though there were hidden eyes watching her, creating an unsettling feeling despite their invisibility.
"Stop looking," Leo said, "You won't find them."
Isabella withdrew her gaze. "Charles' spies?"
He shook his head. "It's the city's media and paparazzi, the kind that specializes in secretly photographing the secrets of the wealthy."
Isabella began to understand that this was to create a buzz for them.
Surely by tomorrow morning, the news of the two newlywed couples soaking in Springfield Hot Springs, accompanied by various explicit photos, would be all over the city.
"Charles is really putting in a lot of effort," Isabella said coldly, then looked at Leo. "Why are you telling me this?"
Leo's expression was somewhat helpless. "If I don't tell you, you'll keep overthinking and keep your distance from me. Isabella, I don't want you to keep your distance from me."
He suddenly reached out and grabbed Isabella's wrist. Using the buoyancy of the water, he easily pulled Isabella over.
Leo lowered his head, his wet fingers touching Isabella's cheek, and said hoarsely, "Bella, if you refuse tonight, Seb will be dragged into this too. It's over between you two. Can't you at least consider me? I swear, I'll treat you right!"
"Leo, let go!" Isabella struggled.
The water churned around them.
It was then that Isabella noticed Leo's flushed face and heavy breathing, his gaze filled with a predatory intensity.
Leo looked like a hungry wolf, staring intently at Isabella. He wrapped his arm around Isabella's waist, pressing her against the pool, and leaned in to kiss her.
"Leo!" Isabella kicked him with all her might, but instead of pushing him away, she only made the water splash more.
In a pavilion on the second floor not far away, two paparazzi were watching intently through a black camera.
"Isn't this crazy?" one of them said.
"Live streaming, no less. This is way more exciting than those edited videos," replied the other.
"If this goes live tomorrow, it'll cause a sensation in the entire city!"
"Entire city? If this airs, it'll be a nationwide!"
"Quick, take the shot!"
Suddenly, a foot came flying from behind.
The two paparazzi each took a kick and were knocked to the ground.
"Ouch!"
"Who was that?"
The paparazzi turned to see Michael standing there, his face instantly shifting from aggression to a forced smile. "Michael, what a surprise!"
"Michael, what a coincidence. You're here for the hot springs too?"
Michael sat down, dusting off his black clothes."Do I look like I'm here to soak in the hot springs?"
Not at all!
Michael was dressed head to toe, completely out of place for a relaxing soak. Besides, Charles had mentioned that aside from the four newlyweds, everyone else at Springfield Hot Springs tonight was paparazzi.
Michael worked underground, answering to Richard, with no known ties to Charles or the Jose family. His presence here was certainly unexpected.
Michael settled into a chair and glanced at the camera. "So, what are you filming?"
The two paparazzi exchanged nervous glances, forcing smiles. "Just catching some gossip."
Michael chuckled. "Do you know Richard has a deal here tonight?"
"No, we didn't know!"
They only knew there was big gossip tonight, nothing else.
Michael said nothing, merely cast a dismissive glance at the two of them, and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.
Those two taps felt like two heavy hammers on the paparazzi's hearts.
Michael, Richard, and the First Casino—everyone knew their clout, though ordinary folks might not grasp the full scope. But for paparazzi, the hierarchy was clear.
In Lakina, there wasn't a high society figure they wouldn't dare to photograph or cross.
Except for the First Casino. The First Casino was untouchable.
After all, when it came to life-threatening matters, who would risk their own life?
The two paparazzi understood instantly and were about to leave with the camera. "Michael, we'll leave right away."
"Wait!" Michael said, "Leave the camera, and you can go!"
The paparazzi, holding their cameras, looked conflicted. "Michael, you know, for us, we can lose anything, but not our cameras."
Michael's smile turned menacing. "And how do your lives stack up against that?"
The paparazzi were speechless.
When the two paparazzi left the pavilion, their faces were full of sorrow.
Kelsey was waiting nearby and ran up after they left.
Michael was checking the contents of the camera. Hearing footsteps, he put the camera away and raised an eyebrow at Kelsey. "Kelsey?"
"Did you intercept it?" Kelsey was only interested in the camera in his hand and reached out to grab it.
Michael moved his hand to the side, causing Kelsey to miss and lose her balance, falling straight into Michael's arms.
