Morning sunlight barely touched Lillian as she sat across from Chloe at the small kitchen table.
They were eating breakfast, though neither was really tasting it.
The apartment was quiet except for the low hum of the television.
Chloe sipped her coffee, eyes flicking toward Lillian with curiosity.
"Honestly," she said, grinning, "I can't decide if you're more scared of Sebastian or excited by him."
Lillian rolled her eyes, hiding a blush.
"I'm not—." she began, but the TV suddenly caught her attention.
A news anchor appeared on the screen, her tone serious.
"Breaking news: Sovereign Technologies CEO Sebastian Wolfe was attacked last night outside the company headquarters…"
Lillian froze.
Her spoon clattered into her bowl.
Chloe leaned forward.
"What?"
On the screen, there were two photographs. One of Sebastian, looking as intimidating as ever. And one of Ethan.
The anchor continued.
"Witnesses report a physical altercation between Mr. Wolfe and Ethan Bennett. Mr. Wolfe sustained injuries but refused medical attention. Authorities are investigating, and his current condition and location is unknown."
Lillian's stomach dropped.
Her heart pounded so hard it hurt.
She didn't hesitate.
"Chloe—I have to go."
"What?" Chloe's voice wavered with concern.
"Where? What are you talking about?"
"To him."
Without another word, Lillian grabbed her bag and keys.
Chloe watched, frozen, as Lillian rushed out the door.
The drive to Sebastian's mansion was frantic.
Her mind raced.
He hates hospitals.
He would never call an ambulance.
What if he's alone? What if… what if he's worse than they say?
Her hands gripped the steering wheel so tight her knuckles turned white.
The city streets blurred as she sped past traffic lights, ignoring the honks and shouts from drivers.
Her fear kept her focused. Every second felt like hours.
Finally, the tall gates of the mansion appeared.
She skidded to a stop, jumped out, and ran toward the front door.
She knocked as hard as she could.
"Sebastian! It's me!"
No answer.
She pounded again.
"Open up!"
Silence.
Then she remembered—the spare keys he had given her.
She unlocked the door, heart hammering.
The mansion was eerily silent.
Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, reflecting off the polished marble floors.
Everything looked normal. Too normal.
"Sebastian?" she called.
Her voice echoed through the empty halls.
No reply.
Then she noticed it.
A dark, wet stain on the marble.
Her breath caught.
Blood.
A trail.
It led from the entrance, winding through the hallways.
Lillian's legs trembled, but she pushed herself forward.
Step by step, she followed the trail, each step sending her heart racing faster.
It went upstairs.
Down the long corridor.
Finally—to the bedroom.
The bedroom door was slightly ajar.
Lillian pushed it open slowly, afraid of what she might see.
And there he was.
Sebastian Wolfe.
Sitting on the floor of his ensuite bathroom, back against the wall.
His shirt was soaked in blood.
Dark crimson spread across the marble tiles, glistening in the morning light.
The bandages around his side were completely soaked through.
He looked exhausted. Broken.
Barely conscious.
Lillian dropped to her knees beside him.
"Sebastian!"
He stirred weakly, blinking at her.
"Lillian…?" His voice was hoarse, almost unrecognizable.
Tears sprang to her eyes.
"Oh my god…" she whispered, pressing her hands to the wound.
"Why didn't you call for help? You idiot!"
Sebastian groaned softly.
His hand rose weakly, brushing against hers.
"I… didn't want… hospitals," he muttered.
"You could've died!" she snapped, though her voice trembled.
"You could've died, and I wouldn't have been there!"
He tried to lift himself, but pain shot through his side.
Lillian held him down gently.
"No," she said firmly. "Stay still. Please."
Minutes passed as she tried to bandage the wound.
The blood seeped through every layer.
Sebastian gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain.
Lillian's hands were shaking.
Her mind screamed at her: This is the man I like. The man I… care about. I can't lose him.
He gave her a weak look, half-lidded eyes filled with both pain and something softer—trust. Vulnerability.
"You're impossible," she whispered, voice breaking slightly.
He managed a faint smirk.
"I know."
Her hands paused, hovering over him.
Her heart twisted painfully.
She had always known Sebastian was complicated.
But seeing him like this… broken and bleeding… it made her realize something she hadn't admitted to herself yet.
She cared about him.
A lot more than she had expected.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she managed to secure the bandages as best she could.
Sebastian leaned his head back against the wall, closing his eyes briefly.
"You… don't know how much… this means."
Lillian swallowed the lump in her throat.
"You're not allowed to scare me like that," she said, her eyes locking on his.
He managed a small, pained smile.
"I… can't promise I'll be sensible."
She shook her head.
"You need to be."
He looked at her, eyes heavy with exhaustion.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then, almost instinctively, they leaned closer.
Her heart pounded.
His lips were only inches from hers.
Time seemed to freeze.
She whispered, "Sebastian…"
He whispered back, "Lillian…"
And then—
Their lips met.
Soft. Gentle. Hesitant.
The world outside the bathroom didn't exist.
The blood. The pain. The fear—all of it melted away.
It was just them.
And in that moment, everything else faded.
But the kiss was brief.
Sebastian was losing consciousness.
He gasped, gripping the floor for support.
Lillian felt him go limp in her arms.
"Sebastian?!"
Panic surged through her.
Blood loss. Too much blood.
She held him tightly, trembling, voice breaking.
"No, no, no… you can't do this. Not now. Not like this!"
Her mind raced.
He couldn't be left alone. Not like this.
She scrambled for her phone, hands shaking.
"Ambulance! Please! My friend—he's bleeding—he's… unconscious!"
She pressed the call button, her voice trembling as she relayed the mansion address.
Sebastian's head lolled slightly against her shoulder.
"I… like you," he whispered weakly, almost inaudible.
Tears streamed down Lillian's face.
"I like you too," she whispered back.
And then she kissed his forehead, holding him tightly as she waited for help to arrive.
The sound of sirens approached, faint but growing.
Lillian didn't let go.
She refused.
Sebastian was alive.
He would be okay.
Because she wasn't letting him go—not this time.
And for the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to admit it fully.
She loved him.
The impossible, cold, infuriating Sebastian Wolfe.
Her Sebastian Wolfe.
And she would fight for him.
No matter what.