Leah woke slowly.
Warm.
Comfortable.
Still.
Her eyes opened slightly.
The ceiling came into view.
Familiar.
Soft light spilling through the curtains.
She didn't move at first.
Just lay there.
Quiet.
Then—
Something felt off.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
Her fingers shifted against the blanket.
Soft.
Pulled up neatly.
Too neatly.
She blinked.
Then slowly—
She sat up.
The room came into focus.
Her room.
Her bed.
Her blanket.
A pause.
Her expression changed.
"…No," she murmured.
Her voice soft.
Confused.
She looked down at her hands.
Then around the room again.
"…I fell asleep in the nursery."
The words felt strange.
Unfinished.
Wrong.
She pushed the blanket aside.
Stood.
Barefoot against the floor.
Still thinking.
Still trying to piece it together.
"…I didn't come back."
Her chest tightened slightly.
Not fear.
Just… realization.
Someone had moved her.
Carefully.
Quietly.
She stepped out of her room.
Walking into the hallway.
The mansion was calm.
Still.
Morning light filling the space.
She moved downstairs.
Slow.
Thoughtful.
Elias was already there.
Standing near the window.
Hands behind his back.
As if he had been expecting her.
"…Leah," he said calmly.
She stopped.
"…Good morning."
"…Good morning," she replied softly.
A pause.
She stepped closer.
"…Did someone bring me back to my room?" she asked.
Elias didn't answer immediately.
Just looked at her.
Then—
"You fell asleep in the nursery."
"I know," she said quickly.
"…But I didn't come back."
A small silence settled between them.
Then—
"…You didn't," Elias confirmed.
Her gaze lifted slightly.
Understanding.
"…Izana told you."
Elias nodded once.
"He did."
Something softened in her expression.
"…He noticed."
Elias's gaze didn't change.
"He always does."
Leah looked down slightly.
Her fingers brushing lightly against her sleeve.
"…I fell asleep talking to him," she murmured.
Elias didn't respond to that.
But he didn't need to.
The silence said enough.
Leah let out a small breath.
"…Thank you," she said quietly.
Elias gave a small nod.
Then turned slightly.
Leaving her with the quiet again.
Leah stood there for a moment.
Then reached for her phone.
Her fingers hovered over the screen.
Just for a second.
Then she called.
—
The line rang once.
Then—
He answered.
"…Li."
Her chest eased instantly.
"…Iz."
A pause.
Soft.
Familiar.
"…Did you tell Elias?" she asked.
"Yes."
"…Thank you."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then—
"…I fell asleep while we were talking," she admitted.
"I'm sorry."
Her voice softer now.
Quiet
"It's okay, my love."
Leah blushed slightly from his words.
On the other end—
A small pause.
Then—
"…I know you were tired," he said.
Simple.
Certain.
Her lips curved faintly.
"…You stayed on the call?"
"For a while."
"…You didn't have to," she murmured.
"I wanted to."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Just truth.
Leah leaned slightly against the wall.
Her shoulders relaxing.
"…I woke up in bed," she said.
"I know."
"…You sent someone."
"Yes."
A small breath left her.
"…You noticed everything."
Silence.
Then—
"Yes."
Her fingers tightened slightly around the phone.
"…You always do."
"I do."
A pause.
Comfortable.
Steady.
"…Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yes," she said.
"…I'm fine."
"…And you?" she added softly.
"I'm fine."
She smiled faintly.
"…You always say that."
"And I'm always right."
A quiet laugh escaped her.
"…You're impossible."
"…Only with you."
Her smile deepened slightly.
A moment passed.
Then—
"…Are you busy?" she asked.
"Yes."
Honest.
Direct.
"…The meeting is starting."
Her expression softened.
"…Okay."
A pause.
Neither of them rushed to hang up.
"…Come back to me," she said quietly.
On the other end—
A brief silence.
Then—
"I will."
Firm.
Certain.
The line went quiet.
Then ended.
Leah lowered the phone slowly.
The mansion felt different now.
Still quiet.
But steadier.
Because he was still there.
Just…
Far away.
—
The room was cold.
Controlled.
Silent.
Izana sat at the head of the table.
Posture straight.
Expression unreadable.
Across from him—
Men he didn't trust.
Would never trust.
Dante stood slightly behind him.
Off to the side.
Watching.
Always watching.
One of the men leaned back slightly.
Studying Izana.
"You're far from home," he said.
Izana didn't react.
"And yet you invited me," he replied calmly.
A faint smirk crossed the man's face.
"We've heard a lot about you."
Izana's gaze didn't shift.
"Then you already know how this goes."
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Measured.
Another man spoke.
"You run a powerful operation."
A pause.
"But power shifts."
Dante's eyes narrowed slightly.
Subtle.
Barely noticeable.
Izana remained still.
"…Only for those who lose control," he said.
Calm.
Certain.
No emotion behind it.
Just fact.
The men exchanged brief glances.
Something unspoken passing between them.
Izana noticed.
Of course he did.
One of them leaned forward.
"Let's not waste time," he said.
"…The deal."
Izana nodded once.
"Proceed."
Documents were placed on the table.
Numbers.
Terms.
Conditions.
Everything laid out.
Precise.
Careful.
Calculated.
Izana's eyes scanned the pages.
Quick.
Efficient.
Nothing missed.
Nothing overlooked.
Across the room—
A man shifted slightly.
Too subtle for most.
Not for Izana.
Not for Dante.
Dante's gaze flicked toward him.
Then back.
"…Something's off," Dante murmured under his breath.
Low.
Barely audible.
Izana didn't look at him.
"…I know," he replied.
His tone didn't change.
Didn't shift.
Didn't give anything away.
He set the papers down.
Leaned back slightly.
Eyes moving across the room.
Watching.
Listening.
Waiting.
Every detail mattered.
Every movement meant something.
And something—
Wasn't right.
One of the men smiled.
Too easily.
Too confidently.
Izana noticed that too.
Of course he did.
His gaze sharpened slightly.
Just for a second.
Then it was gone.
Replaced by calm.
Control.
Precision.
He folded his hands together.
Resting them on the table.
"…Continue," he said.
The room remained still.
But underneath—
Something shifted.
Unseen.
Unspoken.
Dangerous.
And Izana felt it.
Before anyone said a word.
Before anything happened.
He already knew.
This wasn't going to be simple.