Isabella returned to the living room with her phone in her hand.
“My friend agreed to help us,” she announced.
Dante looked at her suspiciously. “What exactly did you tell her?”
“I told her I had an emergency.”
“And you didn't mention me?”
“Not yet.”
“Good.”
Isabella sat beside him.
“We need to be careful. I'll introduce you as my fiancé. That way, she won't ask too many questions about why I'm bringing you to her.”
Dante slowly turned towards her.
“Your fiancé?”
“Yes.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Fine. I'll tell her you're a wounded DON...0 I found hiding in my apartment.”
His jaw tightened.
“You enjoy irritating me.”
“It's one of my natural talents.”
“Find another talent.”
“Being beautiful is already a full-time job.”
Dante stared at her in disbelief.
Isabella burst out laughing.
“Relax, darling. It's just an excuse. My friend doesn't need to know who you really are.”
“Don't call me darling.”
“Okay, baby.”
“Isabella.”
“Yes, love?”
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
She smiled sweetly.
“See? You're already learning to control your temper.”
Dante opened his eyes.
“One day, that mouth of yours will get you into trouble.”
“Then you'll have to rescue me, won't you, sweetheart?”
“I'm beginning to understand why people choose silence.”
Isabella laughed again.
Then she noticed how serious he looked.
“Hey, Dante.”
“What?”
“You need to promise me something.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What now?”
“You'll cooperate with my friend and let her treat your wound without arguing.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then I'll carry you there myself.”
He looked at her from head to toe.
“You?”
“Yes, me!”
“You couldn't carry a bag of rice.”
Isabella gasped.
“How dare you insult my strength?”
“I'm simply stating a fact.”
She pinched his nose.
“Hey!” Dante protested.
Isabella shook his nose playfully before releasing it.
“Such a scary man! Defeated by one little pinch.”
His expression darkened.
“Isabella, I swear—”
“What? Are you going to punish me?”
He leaned forward slightly.
“Keep testing me and find out.”
Instead of moving away, Isabella suddenly climbed onto his lap, facing him.
Dante froze.
One of her hands rested on his shoulder as she leaned closer to his face.
For a man who had spent years commanding others, he was completely unprepared for the tiny woman sitting comfortably on his lap.
“Isabella,” he said quietly.
She tilted her head.
“Yes, Dante?”
“Get off.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
She smiled.
“That's not a reason.”
Her face moved closer to his ear. He could feel her breath against his skin.
Then she whispered his name.
“Dante.”
His entire body went still.
For a brief moment, he couldn't think of a single thing to say.
He had been surrounded by people all his life. Men feared him, women admired him from a distance, and enemies trembled when they heard his name.
But no one had ever come this close to him so casually.
No one had ever treated him like an ordinary man who could be teased.
His ears began turning red.
Isabella noticed immediately.
Her eyes widened with delight.
“Wait a minute.”
Dante looked away.
“What?”
“Are your ears turning red?”
“No.”
She leaned back to examine his face.
“They are!”
“Isabella.”
“You're blushing!”
“I'm not blushing.”
She laughed so hard that she nearly lost her balance.
Dante caught her by the waist before she could fall.
For a second, their eyes met.
The laughter faded from Isabella's face.
Something unfamiliar passed between them, something neither of them was ready to name.
Then Isabella quickly climbed off his lap.
“Come on, fiancé. We have a nurse to visit.”
Dante adjusted his shirt and glared at her.
“I'm going to regret this.”
“You already regret meeting me, darling.”
“Every second.”
“Liar.”
She helped him stand, making sure he didn't put too much pressure on his injured side.
Before leaving, she checked that he was disguised well enough to avoid attracting attention.
“Remember, you're my fiancé,” she reminded him as they left the apartment.
Dante gave her a cold look.
“Don't make me regret agreeing to this.”
“You didn't agree. I decided for both of us.”
“That's precisely the problem.”
Isabella giggled as they made their way to her friend's home.