His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.

Chapter 782 Happy

Jason’s voice rose with excitement. "Female? I have a female fan? A real one? Not just someone’s girlfriend who got dragged along?"

"A real one, I guess."

"Tell me about her!" Jason was practically shouting now. "What’s her name? What does she look like? Does she know anything about racing? Maybe I can prepare an autograph for her. A signed poster. A hat. A—"

"She makes robots," Bella interrupted.

Jason went silent.

"Robots?" he said slowly.

"She’s working on a robotics project for the college. Patient care, rehabilitation, that kind of thing." Bella smiled, her voice warm with enthusiasm. "She’s really smart. Intense. A little strange, but in a good way."

"Strange how?"

Bella thought about it. "She doesn’t really understand people. Social things. She’s very honest. She told me I have to make all my other friends into siblings so she can be my only friend."

Jason laughed. "What?"

"I’m serious. She said it with a straight face."

"That’s... weird."

"Yeah," Bella said. "But I like her. She’s different."

"So she’s coming to my race?"

"I gave her the ticket, so yes."

"Awesome!" Jason’s voice boomed through the phone. "I’m going to have a real fan! A female fan! A robot-making female fan!"

Bella laughed. "Don’t get too excited. She might just stare at the cars the whole time and ignore you."

"That’s fine. I’m used to being ignored by women."

Bella snorted. "You’re so dramatic."

"I’m being honest, Bella Bell."

She shook her head, still smiling.

Then Jason’s voice shifted, becoming more serious. "By the way, my real motive for calling you was about Hackerverse."

Bella’s steps slowed.

"You haven’t been online for a long time. You should check your profile. Goodness, your clients are spamming me with messages. ’Where is Bellatrix?’ ’Is she okay?’ ’When will she be back?’" He mimicked a high-pitched, worried voice. "It’s getting out of hand."

Bella winced. "I’ve been busy."

"I know, but they don’t know. They think you fell off the face of the earth. One guy suggested you might have been abducted by aliens."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously. He even wrote a very detailed and very convincing paragraph about it."

Bella laughed. "What did he say?"

"He said the timing was suspicious. You disappeared right after a major solar flare. He thinks the aliens used the flare as cover."

"That’s ridiculous."

"That’s Hackerverse." Jason paused. "So make sure to put a ’not available’ message on your profile board if you’re unavailable. I just logged in yesterday, and guess what? You, Jacyy, Scar, me and Dom, all of us are missing collectively. It’s caused a scene. Some hackers are wondering if we got killed together."

He paused dramatically.

"Like, same time, same place, same mysterious disappearance. People are making wild theories. I read one that said we all joined a secret cult and moved to a mountain."

Bella laughed despite herself. "A cult?"

"A very exclusive cult with good Wi-Fi, apparently."

She shook her head, still smiling. "I’ve just been busy. College, the presentation, the robotics project—"

"I know, I know." Jason’s voice softened. "I’m not blaming you. Just... let people know you’re alive, okay? Throw them a bone. A small crumb. A single status update."

"I will," Bella said. "I promise."

"When?"

"Soon."

"When is soon?"

"When I have time."

"You’re never going to do it, are you?"

Bella laughed. "Okay, maybe I’m a little busy, but I will do it as soon as possible, okay?"

Jason sighed. "Fine. Fine. Maybe I’ll handle the messages. I’ll tell them you’re alive. I’ll make something up. You’re on a secret mission. You’re undercover. You’re—"

"Just tell them I’m busy, Jason."

"Boring." He groaned. "You’re no fun."

"I’m plenty of fun. I’m just not a liar."

"Same thing."

Bella rolled her eyes. "Goodbye, Jason."

"Wait! Don’t hang up!" His voice brightened again. "Now, about this robot-making friend of yours—"

Bella laughed and kept walking, letting him ramble on about racing, fans, and the best places to sign autographs.

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

"Finally you came to meet me, little bunny!" William said, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Bella had gone straight to her grandfather’s house after college. Her bag was still slung over her shoulder. Her hair was slightly windswept from the walk, strands escaping her ponytail and curling around her face. She had barely stepped through the door when William’s voice boomed across the foyer.

"Grandpa!" Bella’s cheeks flushed a deep pink. Her hands flew to her warm face. "Why are you calling me bunny?"

William chuckled, his weathered face creasing into a warm, knowing smile. His eyes crinkled at the corners. "Didn’t he call you that?"

Bella’s blush deepened. She looked down at her shoes, then back up at her grandfather, her lips pressed together to hide her smile. She could feel the heat spreading from her cheeks to her ears.

"He does," she admitted softly.

William’s smile widened. "Then so will I."

Bella shook her head, but she was smiling. She walked further into the house, the familiar scent of old books and lemon polish wrapping around her like a hug.

She noticed something different about William today. He was dressed in a crisp button-down shirt, his white hair neatly combed, his eyes bright and clear. There was a spring in his step, a lightness in his movements that hadn’t been there the last time she visited.

"Grandpa, you seem very happy today," she said, studying his face.

William’s eyes sparkled. "Of course bunny," he said mysteriously.

Bella tilted her head, suspicious. Her brown eyes narrowed playfully. "Tell me, Grandpa."

He laughed. A loud, hearty sound that filled the room and made her smile despite herself. The sound bounced off the walls and settled in her chest like something warm.

"Haha, nothing serious," he said, pulling her into a hug. His arms wrapped around her, thin but strong. "I am just happy because you came here to meet me, bunny."

Bella hugged him back, her arms wrapping around his thin shoulders. He smelled like peppermint and old paper, and his heart beat steadily beneath her cheek. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting herself feel safe.

She pulled back and looked at him, her expression turning serious. Her brow furrowed. Her lips pressed together.

"Grandpa, can you call me something different? Not little bunny?"