Leo looked at Marcus and smirked slightly. "Don't worry, Bella seems to be a much better person than you. I wouldn't do anything that could hurt her."
Marcus' eyes flashed with a hint of dissatisfaction, but since Leo made his intentions clear, Marcus let it slide.
Leo, still curious, lowered his voice and asked softly, "But why is Bella staying here?"
"Why don't you take her with you to your big villa? Wouldn't she have a much better life there?"
"She's blind, Marcus. Wouldn't it be easier to take care of her if she lived with you?"
Leo asked his questions one after another, unable to hide his confusion. In his mind, if he had Marcus' wealth, he'd never leave his blind sister in an old house in a remote alley.
Marcus let out a long sigh, leaning back in his chair with a melancholic expression. After a brief silence, he spoke in a heavy tone. "This is Bella's and my original home. We were both born here."
He hesitated before continuing. "After Bella was born, my mother passed away due to complications from childbirth. My father, left to care for two children, took on dangerous work hunting wild animals. He managed to survive a severe accident, but he became disabled and… eventually died while we were still young."
Hearing this, Leo was stunned. He had always assumed Marcus had lived a charmed life. But now, he realized just how much hardship Marcus had endured.
"After my father passed away, everything fell on my shoulders. I started running with gangs just to scrape by."
Marcus paused, his voice thick with bitterness. "By luck or fate, I was noticed by my first boss. He trained me, and things got easier for us."
"But when Bella was ten, I crossed the wrong person. That person came to my house and… blinded Bella as revenge. From that moment on, I vowed never to involve her in my life outside these walls. Not even my closest allies know I have a sister."
Marcus' voice became firmer as he turned to Leo, his gaze deadly serious. "So, you must never let anyone know that Bella is my sister. If my enemies find out… she'll be in danger."
Leo studied Marcus' face and saw the raw fear in his eyes. It was clear Marcus would do anything to protect Bella, even kill him if necessary.
Leo nodded slowly. "Don't worry, I won't say a word."
Marcus relaxed slightly, but Leo's curiosity wasn't satisfied. "What did you mean when you said you don't have your previous status anymore?"
Marcus sighed deeply, a mix of frustration and resignation in his voice. "Thanks to you."
Leo blinked, confused. "Me? What did I do?"
Marcus rubbed his temples and explained, "When you went to pay back the money to Evan, he got irritated for some reason. He blamed me for lending you the money and dismissed me from my position before he left for the top ten academies."
Marcus shrugged helplessly. "Now, I'm just biding my time until Bella enrolls in the Advanced Ability Academy. Once she's settled, I plan to leave this city for good."
Leo scratched his head awkwardly. He hadn't expected his actions to cause Marcus so much trouble.
Marcus interrupted his thoughts. "I have a proposal for you."
Leo raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"I'll deal with those people outside for you. In exchange, when you go to the Advanced Ability Academy, you'll keep an eye on Bella."
Leo considered the offer for a moment before nodding. "Deal."
However, a thought crossed his mind. "But what are Bella's abilities?"
Leo's eyes drifted toward Bella, who was busy in the kitchen. Even from behind, she radiated a calm, gentle energy.
Marcus' eyes softened as he replied, "She's an A-rank ability user. Her power is called Angel's Light."
Leo's jaw dropped. "A-rank?"
A-rank ability users were considered geniuses, rare talents who were heavily protected by society. Even though he wasn't familiar with Angel's Light, he knew that any A-rank ability was exceptional.
"Then… she won't need me to protect her. If anything, she'll probably be able to protect me," Leo muttered, trying to wrap his head around it.
But Marcus shook his head, a trace of sadness in his expression.
"If she were healthy, she'd be a shining star among ability users. But she's blind. No matter how strong her ability is, she'll always lag behind others."
Marcus' words lingered in the air, heavy with unspoken pain. Leo remained silent, understanding for the first time just how deeply Marcus cared for his sister.
"In addition, Bella's angelic ability is a super-power type. Without sight, its potential is greatly diminished. Her combat power is significantly suppressed. Even though she has an A-level ability, the Advanced Ability Academy was initially unwilling to accept her."
Marcus' voice was low as he continued, "Fortunately, I still had some connections. It was only through pulling a lot of strings that I managed to get her admitted."
As Marcus finished speaking, his expression was filled with guilt and self-reproach.
He knew that if Bella's eyes hadn't been destroyed because of him, she would have been a star among her peers. A child blessed by the heavens. A-level abilities were incredibly rare in Clearhaven, and Bella could have been one of the few to stand out.
But now, that bright future had been forever dimmed.
Leo could see the guilt weighing on Marcus, so he chose to remain silent. His eyes shifted toward Bella, who emerged from the kitchen holding two dishes.
Leo instinctively stood up to help her, but Marcus stopped him with a wave of his hand.
"Bella doesn't need help," Marcus said softly. "She's always insisted on doing things herself. Treating her differently just reminds her of what she's lost."
Bella nodded, her smile as sweet as honey. Her movements were careful but confident, betraying years of practice. After setting the dishes on the table, she returned to the kitchen and brought out a pot of porridge.
"I only made enough for my brother and me," she said quietly, a hint of embarrassment in her tone. "I hope it's okay if we make do with this."
She reached out, her fingers finding a chair with practiced ease. Pulling it to the table, she sat down gracefully.
The three of them began eating together. Leo picked up a piece of meat, its appearance unfamiliar, and placed it in his mouth. After chewing twice, his eyes lit up.
"This is amazing," he said with genuine enthusiasm.
Bella's cheeks flushed a delicate pink at the praise, and her smile grew wider.