"Nope, I’m too starving to fool around with them. Let’s end the fun here," Leo chuckled, fixing his gaze on the waiter. "Is the VIP room ready!?"
"Yes, sir, are you—"
"Please lead us to the room," Leo interrupted before the waiter could finish his sentence. He glanced at Bella. "Let’s go, let’s go, I’m starving..."
The waiter was shocked by the sudden change in the man’s expression after hearing Laura Kiels’s name.
"Sir, what about the room? And the free lunch?" he asked, trailing behind them, helpless.
Leo halted his steps, turning to face the waiter. His previously friendly expression slowly turned cold and fierce.
"Tell that generous Lady I’m grateful for her offer. Still, I would rather pay for her lunch than give up the room. Tell her she can eat as much as she wants...GRATIS," Leo gently patted the waiter’s shoulder. Then, he smoothly slipped a generous amount of money on the waiter’s hand before continuing to walk.
Bella followed Leo while lowering her face to prevent Jessica from recognizing her. She felt grateful that she had returned to her before-married weight; unlike the last time she met Jessica, she was still overweight.
’Jessica won’t recognize me, right!? Damn if she does,’ she wondered. But her hopes were dashed when she heard Jessica’s voice shrieked loudly from behind.
"B-Bella... is... is... that you!?"
’Damn it!’ Bella can’t help but curse.
Bella kept walking, deliberately ignoring Jessica. Meanwhile, Leo, walking beside her, glanced at her.
"So, you really know that old lady, huh!?" His eyebrows raised slightly as he waited for her response. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
"Hmm, I know her. She’s someone from the past... and I don’t want to meet," Bella said without looking at him, not wanting Leo to see her worry.
Bella only wanted to ignore Jessica. Hoping Jessica would give up and leave her alone. However, Bella was wrong; Jessica’s loud voice echoed in the restaurant hall, sounding like a slap to Bella’s head.
"ARABELLA... HOW DARE YOU IGNORE ME!! STOP RIGHT THERE!"
’Truly shameless!! Does she not know the word ’manners’? How dare she shout in this restaurant!?’ Bella couldn’t help but vent her anger inwardly. She felt ashamed to have been part of this woman’s family.
How shameless!
Bella keeps walking.
"ARABELLA DONOVAN, STOP!!" Jessica’s voice sounded close, walking quickly after Bella. "I know it’s you, Bella. Stop right there..." she shouted again.
Jessica’s loud voice was difficult for the people around them to ignore. They all turned their heads, looking in Jessica’s direction.
Bella gritted her teeth, holding back her irritation. She didn’t want to meet and cause drama with this shameless woman, but she insisted.
"Should I, ma’am? Because I truly didn’t know who you were. Nor give a fuck about who you are."
"Young man, please speak more politely. Well, everyone knows my face. Unless you’ve just returned from abroad and haven’t kept up with the news in this country, I’ll understand." She said while casually waving his hand to Leo.
Leo chuckled at her words, leaning his face closer to Jessica’s. She flinched, attempting to move a few inches away from him.
"Ma’am, I thought you left your entire brain at home. But it seems you still have a little bit left..." Amusement flickered in Leo’s eyes as he observed the woman’s reddening face.
"Mam, you’ve guessed it exactly right. I’ve only just arrived in this country, and I didn’t know you or care about your identity!" Leo continued, his tone matter-of-fact.
"Y-You—" Jessica hissed, her fist clenched in frustration.
"Stop harassing us. And stop causing a scene in someone else’s business," Leo’s tone turned cold, his gaze still fixed on Jessica. "If this Lady behind me didn’t respond to you... It means she doesn’t want to talk to you. Do you understand that basic courtesy!?"
Leo intended to put this woman in her place, but he felt Bella’s hand tugging at the edge of his coat, silently asking him to stop.
Jessica seethed with anger, feeling humiliated like never before.
’How dare he speak to me in such a manner? Who does he think he is!?’ Jessica was venting her anger internally. Her face flushed redder and redder as if her blood vessels were on the verge of bursting.
She opened her mouth to say something but was left speechless when she saw the man and Bella walking away, completely ignoring her.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: My Billionaire Ex-Husband Chase Me Back (Mia and Kyle)