His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker. Chapter 862 Why did you wait so long?

"I was young," she said, her voice raw with pain. "I was scared. Your father and Jessica loved each other and I was just a surrogate for them... And I thought... I thought you would have a better life without me."

Bella’s eyes glistened. "But you left me," she said, her voice filled with grievance.

Miss J’s sobs grew louder. "I know. I know and I will never forgive myself for that. I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought you would be safe with a family, with a home.. I didn’t know—I didn’t know she would..."

Bella shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her heart filled with confusion, with pain, with a love she didn’t know how to feel.

"I don’t understand," she whispered. "Why now? Why did you wait so long?"

Miss J’s voice broke. "I was scared, Bella. I was scared of how you would react. I was scared you would hate me. I was scared I would lose you completely."

She paused, her eyes filled with desperate love.

"But I couldn’t keep hiding anymore. I couldn’t keep watching you from a distance, pretending I was just a familiar acquaintance."

Bella stared at her.

"I need some time," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

She stepped back, her hands still trembling.

"I need some time to process this. I—I didn’t expect this. I don’t know how to feel."

Miss J nodded, tears still falling.

"Take all the time you need," she said softly. "I’ll be here. I’m not going anywhere."

Bella turned and walked toward the door. She paused with her hand on the handle, her back still facing Miss J.

"I do love you," she said quietly, her voice breaking. "I always have. But this—this is a lot."

Miss J’s heart ached. "I know, sweet girl. I know."

Bella opened the door and stepped outside.

The woman she had admired, trusted, and loved was her mother.

It felt strange, foreign and overwhelming.

She didn’t know how to handle these emotions.

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Inside the luxurious black car, silence filled the space between them.

Bella sat quietly in the passenger seat, her hands tightly clasped together on her lap. Her knuckles were white, her fingers trembling slightly. Her eyes were red, swollen from crying. She hadn’t spoken a single word since they left Miss J’s studio.

The city passed by outside the window, blurring into streaks of color. But Bella didn’t see any of it. Her mind was still inside that studio, still replaying the words Miss J had said.

Leo glanced at her from the driver’s seat. The moment he saw the tears she was trying so hard to hold back, he slowly pulled the car to the side of the quiet road. The tires crunched softly against the gravel.

He switched off the engine.

The only sound left was the soft sound of the air conditioner.

Leo unfastened his seat belt and turned toward her.

"...You okay, Bunny?" His voice was gentle, soft and patient.

Bella slowly looked at him.

The moment their eyes met, everything she had been holding inside finally broke.

"I’m not okay," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Leo..." She covered her face for a moment before looking back at him. "...Miss J..." A small sob escaped her lips. "...She’s my mom."

The words sounded so strange. Even saying them aloud felt unreal.

Leo didn’t look surprised. He simply opened his arms.

Without another word, Bella immediately leaned into him. He wrapped both arms around her, holding her securely against his chest. His hand gently stroked the back of her head.

Neither of them spoke for a long time.

Sometimes, silence comforted more than words ever could.

To be honest... finding out that someone she had admired was actually her mother...someone she had unknowingly spent time with—it wasn’t something anyone could accept in a single day.

It was overwhelming, confusing and life-changing.

Leo gently kissed the top of her soft, fluffy hair.

"It’s okay," his deep voice remained steady. "If you don’t want to accept her... you don’t have to. There is no one who can force you."

Bella immediately shook her head against his chest.

"No... it’s not that." She tightened her hold around him. "I don’t hate her. I don’t..." She closed her eyes. "It’s just... I... I need some time."

She slowly pulled back just enough to look at him.

"My heart..." She placed a trembling hand over her chest. "It doesn’t know how to react. I feel happy... I feel sad... I’m confused. I don’t even know what I’m supposed to feel anymore."

Leo quietly listened to every word. He gently took her hand into his own.

"You don’t have to decide today," he said softly. "You don’t have to call her ’Mom’ tomorrow. You don’t have to force yourself to feel anything."

He smiled faintly.

"Take all the time you need. If it takes weeks... she will wait if she loves you. If it takes months... she will still wait. And if one day you decide to accept her... I’ll be happy for you."

Bella’s watery eyes looked into his.

"...And if I can’t?"

Leo gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Then that’s okay too. You don’t owe anyone an answer before your heart is ready."

He softly brushed away another tear from her cheek.

"Relationships aren’t built in a single conversation. They’re built little by little. One day at a time."

Bella’s breathing gradually steadied.

She stared at him for several seconds before quietly smiling through her tears.

"...What would I do without you?"

Leo’s eyes softened.

"You’ll never have to find out."

He leaned forward and gently kissed her forehead.

"You already have enough people entering your life unexpectedly."

A tiny laugh escaped Bella.

Leo smiled, seeing that small laugh.

"There... that’s the Bunny I like."

Bella leaned against his shoulder once again.

It was good to have someone whom you could share concerns with. Someone who held you when you didn’t have the words. Someone who didn’t rush you to feel what you weren’t ready to feel.

Bella felt lucky to have a husband like Leo.