The mansion was no longer still.
It moved.
Quietly.
Efficiently.
Leah walked through the halls with purpose.
No hesitation.
No pause.
Her phone rested firmly in her hand, her grip steady now.
The panic from before hadn't disappeared.
It had changed.
Sharpened.
Focused.
Staff stepped aside as she passed.
They noticed the shift immediately.
The softness was still there—
But underneath it now—
Control.
"Prepare the entrance," she said as she passed one of the staff members.
Her voice was calm.
Clear.
"No delays."
"Yes, Miss Leah."
She didn't slow down.
Didn't look back.
Her steps carried her straight toward the far end of the hall.
The medical corridor.
The doors were already open.
Doctors inside.
Moving.
Organizing.
But not fast enough.
Leah stepped in.
The room shifted slightly at her presence.
She scanned everything in a single glance.
Equipment.
Tables.
Lighting.
"Prepare a full treatment room," she said.
Calm.
Clear.
"Now."
The doctors moved immediately.
No hesitation.
One of them stepped forward.
"We'll need details on the injury—."
Leah paused for just a second.
Her fingers tightened slightly at her side.
"…He's injured," she said.
Quiet.
Controlled.
"I don't have full details."
A small silence followed.
Then—
"Prepare for multiple possibilities," she continued.
"Trauma. Blood loss. Internal damage."
Her voice didn't waver.
"Everything ready."
The doctor nodded quickly.
"Understood."
Leah stepped further into the room.
Her gaze moved across everything again.
Nothing missed.
Nothing overlooked.
"Be ready the moment he arrives," she added.
"Yes, ma'am."
Behind her—
Elias stood at the doorway.
Watching.
Silent.
Taking everything in.
Leah didn't turn.
Didn't need to.
She knew he was there.
A moment passed.
Then—
"You're thinking like him now," Elias said quietly.
Leah's hands stilled for just a second.
Then resumed.
"…I have to," she replied.
Simple.
Honest.
Elias gave a small nod.
That was enough.
Leah stepped back slightly.
Her gaze steady.
"Inform me the moment he arrives," she said.
Elias gave a nod.
Then she turned.
Left the room.
Her pace didn't slow.
Not once.
The jet was quiet.
Too quiet.
The low hum of the engine filled the space.
Steady.
Unchanging.
Izana sat upright despite everything.
His arm secured tightly in the sling.
His expression calm.
Controlled.
Unreadable.
Papers rested in his lap.
His gaze moved across them.
Sharp.
Focused.
Dante stood across from him.
Watching.
Arms crossed.
"…You're not serious," Dante said after a moment.
No response.
Izana didn't look up.
"You just got blown up," Dante continued.
"…And you're working?"
Still nothing.
Izana turned a page.
"…You're injured," Dante added.
Finally—
"I'm aware."
Flat.
Unbothered.
Dante exhaled slowly.
"…Then act like it, Izana."
No reaction.
Izana's eyes narrowed slightly as he read something.
His fingers shifted against the paper.
A small pause.
Then—
"…This doesn't line up."
Dante's gaze sharpened.
"With what?"
Izana didn't answer immediately.
He flipped another page.
Another.
Then stopped.
"…The timing," he said.
Quiet.
Measured.
Dante pushed off the wall slightly.
"Yeah," he said.
"…It was too clean."
Izana's gaze lifted now.
Cold.
Focused.
"Too prepared."
A pause.
Dante nodded once.
"…They knew you'd be there."
Izana didn't deny it.
Didn't argue.
Because it was true.
His fingers tapped once against the paper.
Then stilled.
"…It's internal," he said.
The words settled heavily in the air.
Dante didn't respond immediately.
He already knew.
He just didn't want to say it first.
Now he didn't have to.
"…Yeah," Dante said quietly.
"…That's what I was thinking."
He pulled out his phone.
Cracked—but working.
Started going through contacts.
Messages.
Connections.
Cross-checking.
Fast.
Efficient.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
"…You're right."
Izana didn't react outwardly.
Dante looked up.
"…This came from inside."
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Controlled.
Izana leaned back slightly.
His eyes half-lidded.
But his mind—
Still sharp.
Still moving.
"Names," he said.
Dante nodded.
"Working on it."
He paused.
Then smirked faintly.
"…You really know how to make enemies, boss."
No response.
"…Explosions now?" Dante added.
"…Bit dramatic, even for you."
Izana's gaze shifted toward him briefly.
"…Focus."
Dante huffed quietly.
"…I am focused."
A pause.
Then—
"…Just saying. Next time, maybe pick a quieter meeting."
Izana didn't respond.
But the faintest shift in his expression said enough.
Dante went back to his phone.
"…We're landing soon," he said after a moment.
Izana gave a small nod.
"…Good."
That was all.
The mansion moved faster now.
More precise.
Staff lined the halls.
Quiet.
Prepared.
The medical corridor was ready.
Lights bright.
Equipment set.
Doctors waiting.
Leah stepped inside again.
Just for a moment.
Her gaze moved across everything.
Checking.
Confirming.
Nothing missed.
"Everything is ready," one of the doctors said.
Leah nodded once.
"Good."
She didn't linger.
Didn't hover.
She turned.
Walked back into the hallway.
Her steps slower now.
But only slightly.
Elias joined her again.
Silent as always.
"He will be here soon," he said.
Leah nodded.
"…I know."
A pause.
Her fingers tightened slightly at her sides.
"…He sounded tired," she added quietly.
Elias didn't respond immediately.
"He is injured," he said.
"…But he is alive."
Leah let out a small breath.
"…I know."
But this time—
She believed it.
The jet began its descent.
The subtle shift in movement was barely noticeable.
But it was there.
Dante glanced out the window briefly.
Then back at Izana.
"…Almost there, boss."
Izana didn't move.
Didn't respond.
But his posture shifted slightly.
Just enough.
His hand rested against the armrest.
Still.
Controlled.
"…You should rest when we land," Dante added.
A pause.
Then—
"I will."
Dante raised an eyebrow slightly.
"…That's new."
No response.
"…Guess someone's waiting for you," Dante muttered.
Izana didn't deny it.
Didn't acknowledge it either.
But it was understood.
Leah stood by the front doors.
The same place.
The same spot.
Where she had watched him leave.
Her hands rested lightly at her sides.
Still.
But not calm.
Not this time.
Her gaze stayed fixed ahead.
Waiting.
The sound of a car approaching in the distance.
Her breath caught slightly.
Elias stood behind her.
Silent.
Present.
The car came into view.
Closer.
Closer.
Then it stopped.
Leah didn't move right away.
Couldn't.
For just a second—
Everything stilled again.
Then—
The door opened.
And this time—
She was waiting for him to come back.