The room didn't stay quiet for long.
Footsteps returned.
Voices followed.
Low.
Focused.
Controlled.
The doctors stepped back in.
Prepared this time.
Everything ready.
Leah didn't look at them.
Her attention stayed on Izana.
Always him.
"…We're ready," one of them said.
Leah's fingers tightened around his hand.
Not hard.
Just enough.
She leaned slightly closer.
"…You're not allowed to take too long," she murmured.
A faint pause.
Then—
"I wouldn't dare."
Her lips curved.
Just a little.
Even now.
"…Good," she whispered.
Her thumb brushed gently over his knuckles.
Slow.
Grounding.
"I'll be right here."
Izana watched her.
Steady.
Warm.
"I know."
The way he said it—
Not just reassurance.
Trust.
Complete.
The doctors stepped closer.
"We need to move him now."
Leah didn't let go.
Not immediately.
Her fingers lingered.
Then she leaned in slightly.
Close enough that only he could hear.
"…Come back to me."
A quiet breath passed between them.
"I always do."
Her eyes softened.
"…You better."
A faint hint of something lighter in his expression.
"…You sound like you don't trust me."
She shook her head slightly.
"…I trust you."
A pause.
"…I don't trust anything else."
That made him go quiet for a second.
Then—
"…That's fair."
Her grip tightened once more.
Then slowly—
She let go.
Her hand trailing from his.
Reluctant.
But certain.
They started moving him.
Carefully.
Measured.
Leah stepped alongside for as long as she could.
Not touching now.
But close.
Always close.
Dante moved with them.
Silent at first.
Then—
"…Don't make her come in there after you, boss."
Leah shot him a look.
"…I would."
Dante smirked faintly.
"…Yeah. That's exactly why I said it."
Izana exhaled quietly.
"…Both of you—focus."
"…I am focused," Leah replied softly.
"…On you."
That made him pause.
Just slightly.
Then he looked at her again.
And this time—
There was something softer there.
Something quieter.
They reached the operating room doors.
This was the line.
Leah stopped.
Right in front of them.
She stepped closer one last time.
Her hand lifting carefully.
Resting lightly against his shoulder.
"…I'll be here when you wake up."
"I expect nothing less."
"…You don't get to say that like it's optional," she murmured.
A faint pause.
"…It's not."
Her breath steadied.
"…Good."
The doors opened.
Bright light spilling out.
Cold.
Sterile.
They started to take him in.
Leah's hand slipped away.
The distance forming.
Fast.
Too fast.
"…Iz."
He looked back.
Just for a second.
"I'll be here," she said again.
"I know."
The doors closed.
And he was gone from sight.
The silence hit.
Different now.
Heavier.
Leah stood there.
Not moving.
Not breathing properly.
Just… staring.
Elias stepped beside her.
Quiet.
Grounded.
"You should sit."
Leah didn't respond immediately.
"…In a minute."
Her voice was soft.
But steady.
She stayed there a few seconds longer.
Then finally—
She stepped back.
Slowly.
Lowered herself into a chair.
Straight posture.
Too composed.
Her hands folded in her lap.
Still.
But her fingers shifted slightly.
Small movements.
Barely noticeable.
Dante leaned against the wall across from her.
Watching.
"…You're holding it together better than I expected."
Leah glanced at him briefly.
"…What did you expect?"
"…Throwing something. Yelling. Maybe both."
A faint breath left her.
"…I don't do that."
"…No," Dante said.
"…You don't."
A pause.
"…But you're worried."
Leah looked back at the doors.
"…Of course I am."
Quiet.
Honest.
"…He's my husband."
That settled something in the room.
Dante didn't joke this time.
"…Yeah."
Time passed.
Slow.
Dragging.
Leah's gaze never left the doors.
"…He hates being still," she murmured.
Dante let out a quiet huff.
"…That's an understatement."
"…He'll try to get up too early," she added.
"…Definitely."
She nodded faintly.
"…I won't let him."
Dante smirked slightly.
"…Good luck with that."
Leah's lips curved just a little.
"…He listens to me."
A pause.
Dante tilted his head.
"…Sometimes."
"…Enough," she replied calmly.
That made him chuckle under his breath.
"…Fair."
Silence settled again.
Then—
Dante pushed off the wall.
Ran a hand through his hair.
Frustration showing through now.
"…I should've caught it."
Leah's eyes shifted toward him.
"…Caught what?"
"…The setup."
A pause.
"…Something felt wrong."
Elias looked at him.
"You noticed?"
"…Not enough," Dante said.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"…I ignored it."
Leah's chest tightened.
"…This wasn't random."
"No."
Firm.
Certain.
Elias added quietly—
"…It came from inside."
The words settled heavily.
Leah's fingers tightened in her lap.
Her mind moving.
Quick.
Sharp.
"…Someone knew," she said.
"…About the meeting."
"…About the hotel."
Dante nodded once.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
Leah leaned back slightly.
Her expression shifting.
Calm again.
But colder now.
Focused.
"…We'll deal with that."
Dante raised an eyebrow.
"…When?"
She looked at him.
Steady.
"…After he's okay."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
That was the priority.
Always.
Dante nodded slowly.
"…Alright."
Elias remained silent.
But his agreement was clear.
Time stretched again.
Longer this time.
Heavier.
Leah didn't move much.
Didn't speak.
Her eyes stayed locked on the doors.
Waiting.
Always waiting.
Her fingers tightened and loosened slightly.
Over and over.
"…He'll be fine," Dante said after a while.
Leah didn't answer right away.
Then—
"…I know."
Soft.
Certain.
Not forced.
Not empty.
She believed it.
Because she had to.
Then—
The doors opened.
Leah was on her feet instantly.
Before she even realized it.
The doctor stepped out.
Mask lowered.
Expression serious.
Leah's breath caught.
"…Doctor?"
A pause.
Just a second too long.
Then—
"The surgery was successful."
Everything eased.
Not all at once.
But enough.
Leah exhaled.
Slow.
Deep.
Her shoulders lowering slightly.
"…He's stable," the doctor continued.
"He'll need time to recover."
Leah nodded quickly.
"…Can I see him?"
"Soon."
She nodded again.
"…Okay."
Her voice softer now.
Relief settling in.
Slowly.
Dante let out a breath behind her.
"…Told you."
Leah glanced at him.
"…You did."
A faint pause.
"…Don't get used to me saying that."
Dante smirked.
"…Too late."
Elias stepped forward slightly.
"…He made it through."
Leah looked back at the doors.
Her expression different now.
Softer.
Warmer.
"…He always does," she said quietly.
A small pause.
Then she added—
"…He always comes back to me."
And this time—
There was no doubt in her voice at all.