Morning sunlight filtered through the tall windows of Sebastian Wolfe's mansion, slowly filling the bedroom with soft golden light. The room was quiet, almost unnaturally so, the kind of quiet that only existed in very large houses.
Lillian sat in the armchair beside the bed.
She had been there for a while.
Sebastian was still asleep.
The bandage around his forehead remained clean, though faint bruising had begun to form around the injury Ethan had given him. His dark hair was slightly messy, and one arm rested loosely across the blanket.
For someone who was usually so controlled and intimidating, he looked strangely peaceful like this.
Almost vulnerable.
Lillian studied him for a moment, her arms folded loosely as she leaned back in the chair.
"You really are impossible," she murmured quietly.
He had fought Ethan while still recovering from surgery.
He had driven across the city with a possible concussion.
And then he had stayed awake the entire night watching over her.
The thought made something twist softly in her chest.
Just then—
The sharp sound of the doorbell echoed faintly through the mansion.
Lillian blinked.
Someone was at the door.
She glanced back at Sebastian. He didn't move, his breathing slow and steady.
Carefully, she stood up.
"I'll be right back," she whispered, even though he couldn't hear her.
She stepped out of the bedroom and quietly closed the door.
The hallway outside was wide and modern, sunlight reflecting across the polished marble floors. As she walked toward the stairs, the sheer size of the house felt even more obvious.
The mansion felt… empty.
Almost too quiet.
After descending the staircase, Lillian crossed the large entrance hall and opened the front door.
The moment the door swung open—
"LILLIAN!"
Chloe practically threw her arms around her.
"Oh my god, you're alive!"
Lillian stumbled back slightly in surprise as Chloe hugged her tightly.
"Chloe—."
"I've been losing my mind all morning!" Chloe continued rapidly. "You disappeared, Ethan kidnapped you, Sebastian vanished from Sovereign after I called, and neither of you answered your phone after that!"
Lillian gently pulled back, trying to calm her down.
"I'm okay," she said softly. "I promise."
Chloe looked her over quickly, scanning for injuries.
"You're sure? He didn't hurt you?"
"My wrists are bruised," Lillian admitted, lifting one slightly so Chloe could see the bandage. "But Sebastian got there before anything worse happened."
Chloe exhaled with relief.
"Good. Because if he had—."
She stopped mid-sentence and narrowed her eyes.
"Wait. Speaking of Sebastian… where is the terrifying billionaire right now?"
Lillian hesitated slightly.
"…Upstairs."
Chloe's eyebrow lifted.
"In his bedroom."
Chloe's expression changed immediately.
"Oh?"
Lillian instantly shook her head.
"No! It's not like that!"
Chloe's lips curled into a teasing grin.
"I leave you alone for one night and suddenly you're staying in his bedroom?"
"Chloe!"
"I'm just observing the situation!"
Lillian sighed, rubbing her forehead.
"He's injured."
The teasing vanished from Chloe's face immediately.
"Injured?"
"He got hit in the head during the fight with Ethan," Lillian explained. "He might have a concussion."
Chloe's expression turned serious.
"Show me."
They both walked upstairs together.
When Lillian quietly opened the bedroom door, Sebastian was still asleep in the bed.
Chloe stepped inside carefully.
Her eyes immediately landed on the bandage wrapped around his head.
"Well… that explains a lot," she murmured.
"He almost collapsed earlier," Lillian said quietly.
Chloe crossed her arms.
"And you're the one taking care of him?"
"Yes."
Chloe studied her for a moment.
Then a small, knowing smile appeared on her face.
"You know he's completely crazy about you, right?"
Lillian's eyes widened instantly.
"What?!"
"Oh please," Chloe said. "He broke down a door and nearly killed a guy for you."
"That's not—."
"Normal behavior," Chloe finished.
Lillian shook her head.
"He just did what anyone would do."
Chloe stared at her like she had just said something ridiculous.
"No, Lillian. Most CEOs don't personally rescue their employees from kidnappers."
Lillian looked away, her cheeks warming slightly.
Chloe noticed immediately.
"Oh wow," she said. "You're blushing."
"I am not!"
Chloe laughed quietly.
"Relax. Your secret is safe with me."
After a few minutes, Chloe announced she was going downstairs to make coffee.
Lillian remained upstairs.
The bedroom felt peaceful again.
After a moment, curiosity pulled her out into the hallway.
She hadn't really explored the mansion before.
Walking slowly through the corridor, she began noticing details she had never seen before.
Elegant paintings lined the walls.
Large windows overlooked a beautiful garden.
Everything was perfectly designed.
Expensive.
Impressive.
But something about the place felt… empty.
She eventually wandered into another room.
A wall covered with framed photographs caught her attention.
Most of them showed Sebastian at business events.
Award ceremonies.
Press conferences.
Important meetings.
But there were also older photos.
Sebastian as a teenager.
Sebastian standing beside a couple who were probably his parents.
He looked younger. Less guarded.
More relaxed.
Lillian studied the photos quietly.
For someone with so much success…
His life seemed strangely lonely.
The massive mansion suddenly felt less like a home and more like a monument to his achievements.
After a while, she returned to the bedroom.
Chloe was sitting in the chair again.
Sebastian shifted slightly on the bed.
His eyes slowly opened.
He blinked once.
Then again.
"What time is it?" he muttered.
Lillian immediately stepped closer.
"Late morning."
Sebastian rubbed his temple slowly.
His head still felt heavy.
Chloe stood up.
"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty."
Sebastian glanced at her with mild irritation.
"What are you doing here?"
"Checking if you survived," she replied casually.
Sebastian slowly pushed himself into a sitting position.
The motion made him pause briefly.
Lillian noticed.
"Careful."
"I'm fine."
Chloe crossed her arms.
"You nearly passed out earlier."
Sebastian shot her an annoyed look.
"I did not."
Lillian raised an eyebrow.
"You absolutely did."
Sebastian sighed quietly but didn't argue.
After a moment Chloe excused herself, saying she needed to make a phone call downstairs.
That left Sebastian and Lillian alone.
The room grew quiet again.
Sebastian looked at her.
"Have you thought about what I asked earlier?"
Lillian folded her arms slightly.
"If I come back… things have to change."
Sebastian's gaze remained steady.
"What kind of changes?"
"I'm not going to be humiliated like that again," she said firmly.
"You won't be."
"I mean it."
"So do I."
Lillian studied his face carefully.
For once there was no arrogance there.
Only honesty.
Sebastian leaned back against the pillows again.
He still looked tired.
"I meant what I said earlier," he said quietly.
"About what?"
"I don't want anyone else in that position."
Lillian felt her heart beat slightly faster.
Their eyes met.
Neither of them spoke for several seconds.
The quiet between them felt heavier now.
Not uncomfortable.
Just… different.
For the first time since she had met Sebastian Wolfe, the distance between them felt smaller.