His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker. Chapter 928 Heavy?

"DAAAADAAA!"

Eli finally shouted, his little face completely offended.

He struggled in Leo’s arms. His tiny fists pushed against Leo’s chest and his legs kicked out, though none of it made any difference against his father’s strong grip.

"Okay..okay.. enough!! enough!!" Bella said, stepping closer and trying to take Eli from him. She reached out with both hands, ready to rescue her upset little boy.

Leo adjusted his hold before she could, shifting Eli higher against his chest.

"Don’t hold him. He’s getting heavy these days."

Eli instantly stopped struggling. His little body went still in Leo’s arms, and his face changed. The anger disappeared and his expression became confused and uncertain.

He slowly looked at Leo.

"...Heavy?"

Leo nodded casually, completely unaware of the disaster he had just created.

"Yes. You’re very heavy now. And Mummy is pregnant, so she can’t hold you."

As he spoke, his hand absentmindedly rubbed over Eli’s tummy, which was still round and chubby from breakfast.

Eli looked down at himself.

The word heavy seemed to echo inside his little head, bouncing around and growing louder with each repetition. He had never thought about his size before. He was just Eli, the Big Champ. He had never worried about whether he was too big or too small or too anything.

But now Dada had said he was heavy.

His lower lip began to tremble. It wobbled dangerously and his big eyes grew shiny.

"I’m... heavy?"

Leo finally noticed his expression. His hand stilled on Eli’s tummy and his eyes widened.

Before he could say anything, Eli’s eyes filled with tears. They spilled over his lashes and rolled down his round cheeks.

"Mummmmmmmmaaaaaa!"

Bella’s eyes widened. She shot Leo a look that could have melted steel.

"Leo!"

She immediately took Eli from his arms, pulling him against her chest before Leo could protest. She wrapped both arms around him, cradling him close.

"Are you out of your mind?"

Eli buried his face against her shoulder, tiny sobs escaping as Bella gently rocked him. His little body shook with each cry and his fingers clutched at her shirt.

"My baby isn’t heavy at all," she said, glaring at Leo over Eli’s head. "I can carry him all day if I want. He’s perfect. He’s tiny. He’s my little baby."

Leo opened his mouth.

"I only meant—"

"No." Bella tightened her arms around Eli, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.

"You hurt his feelings."

"I didn’t mean it like that." Leo’s voice came out quieter now, almost defensive.

Eli sniffled against her shoulder, his voice small and watery.

"Dada said I’m heavy..."

Bella immediately kissed his hair, her lips pressed against the soft strands.

"You’re not heavy, baby. Dada is silly."

Leo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I said he’s getting heavy because he’s growing."

"Then say he’s growing!"

Bella glared at him, her eyes blazing. "Don’t tell a four year old he’s heavy!"

Leo fell silent.

Fair enough.

He watched Bella continue rocking Eli, gently rubbing his back while whispering comforting words to him. Her voice was soft, soothing, the kind of voice that could calm any storm. She swayed side to side and Eli’s sobs slowly quieted into hiccups.

His little son slowly stopped crying.

He felt a little guilt in his heart. He hadn’t meant to make Eli feel bad. He had only wanted to tease him but perhaps he had forgotten how seriously little children took certain words. How they carried them around like stones in their pockets.

Leo sighed quietly.

Then Eli slowly lifted his head from Bella’s shoulder.

His cheeks were still wet. His lashes were clumped together and his nose was pink. He looked at Leo with those big, watery eyes.

Leo gave him a small apologetic smile.

"I’m sorry, Big Champ."

Eli stared at him. His little face was unreadable, and for a moment, Leo thought his son might forgive him.

Then Eli stuck his tiny tongue out at him.

Leo’s eyes widened.

Eli immediately buried his face against Bella again, his little arms wrapping around her neck. He snuggled closer, clearly enjoying the attention he was receiving from his beautiful mom.

Bella didn’t notice. She simply continued cuddling him, her cheek resting against the top of his head.

Leo stared.

His guilt vanished. Just like that. .

He had been crying two seconds ago, and now he was secretly enjoying all the extra cuddles. The little manipulator. The tiny, adorable, manipulative little champ.

Leo narrowed his eyes.

"You’re pretending now, aren’t you?"

Eli’s shoulders shook. A tiny giggle escaped, muffled against Bella’s shoulder.

Bella looked at Leo suspiciously, her arms still wrapped protectively around Eli. "Don’t you dare."

Leo sighed, holding up both hands in surrender.

"Nothing."

Eli peeked at him from Bella’s shoulder. One big eye appeared, then the other. His little face was still flushed from crying but there was a mischievous sparkle in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.

Then, very deliberately, he stuck his tongue out again.

Leo stared at him.

Eli giggled. The sound was bright and bubbly, completely at odds with the tears from moments ago.

Bella finally looked down at him, catching the tail end of the giggle.

Her eyes narrowed. "Eli..."

Eli immediately buried his face again, playing innocent.

Leo shook his head, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips.

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

As the days passed, Bella began to feel as though she had somehow turned into a delicate little doll that everyone was afraid to touch too roughly. The moment she stood up, someone would notice. If she walked too quickly, Leo would immediately look up from whatever he was doing. If she reached for something herself, a maid would appear before she could even take another step. Even the simplest things like carrying her own cup or bending down to pick something up had somehow become everyone’s concern.

At first, Bella found it amusing.

Then she started finding it annoying.

And eventually, depending on the day, she found it strangely comforting.

Lina and Alessandro even moved back into the house for a while so they could help take care of her and Bella secretly loved having them around again.