One week later.
The lobby of Sovereign Technologies was unusually quiet as the glass doors slid open.
Sebastian Wolfe stepped inside.
Conversations immediately lowered to whispers.
Employees tried not to stare, but it was impossible not to notice the man who had nearly died only a week ago walking calmly across the polished marble floor like nothing had happened.
"He's back already?"
"I heard he was stabbed."
"He should still be in the hospital."
Sebastian ignored every word.
He walked through the lobby with his usual steady confidence, one hand tucked into the pocket of his dark coat.
The injury in his side still pulled faintly with every step, but he didn't let it show.
Pain was an inconvenience.
Nothing more.
As he stepped into the elevator, the doors closed behind him and the quiet hum of the building surrounded him again.
A moment later the elevator opened onto the executive floor.
And that was when he saw her.
Lillian was already at her desk.
She had a stack of reports in front of her and was typing quickly on her computer, her attention fixed on the screen.
At first glance, everything looked normal.
But Sebastian slowed slightly as he passed her.
Something felt… off.
Lillian looked up when she noticed him.
"Good morning, Mr. Wolfe."
Her voice was polite and professional, exactly the same as always.
But Sebastian's sharp eyes missed nothing.
Her skin looked slightly pale.
There were faint shadows under her eyes.
And when she stood to hand him the first report of the day, her movements were slower than usual.
Sebastian accepted the folder but didn't immediately turn away.
"You look tired," he said calmly.
Lillian blinked once.
"I'm fine."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You're a terrible liar."
She quickly looked back down at the documents on her desk.
"I stayed up finishing the quarterly reports," she replied.
"They're ready for your review."
Sebastian studied her for another moment.
Then he turned and walked into his office.
But the thought stayed with him.
An hour later, Lillian knocked lightly on his office door.
"Come in."
She stepped inside with his coffee and a few additional files.
Sebastian was sitting behind his desk reviewing emails.
He looked up briefly.
And again he noticed it.
The pale color in her face.
The way she cleared her throat softly as she placed the cup on his desk.
"You should probably take a break," he said.
Lillian frowned slightly.
"I just got here."
"You look like you haven't slept in three days."
"I slept."
"You look like you didn't."
She straightened slightly.
"I'm fine, Mr. Wolfe."
Sebastian watched her carefully.
Then he simply nodded.
"Very well."
But he didn't look convinced.
The rest of the morning passed quickly.
Lillian worked through emails, phone calls, and meetings without stopping.
But every now and then she quietly rubbed her temples when no one was looking.
Her throat burned slightly.
Her head felt heavier than usual.
She had woken up that morning with a scratchy cough and a slight fever.
Probably something she picked up during the long nights she had spent in the hospital.
But she ignored it.
Sebastian had just returned to work.
The last thing he needed was another problem.
She quietly took a small bottle of medicine from her drawer and swallowed two pills with water before anyone noticed.
Unfortunately…
Chloe noticed.
Chloe leaned against the edge of Lillian's desk with narrowed eyes.
"You look terrible."
Lillian glanced up.
"Good morning to you too."
"I'm serious," Chloe said. "You're pale."
"I'm just tired."
Chloe folded her arms.
"You're sick."
Lillian sighed quietly.
"Probably something from the hospital."
Chloe frowned.
"Then why are you here?"
Lillian lowered her voice slightly.
"Because Sebastian just came back to work."
"And?"
"And he has enough to deal with."
Chloe stared at her for a moment.
"You spent three days sleeping in a hospital chair for him."
"That was different."
Chloe shook her head.
"You're unbelievable."
"Please don't tell him."
Chloe hesitated.
Then sighed.
"Fine. But if you collapse, I'm blaming you."
Later that afternoon, Sebastian stepped out of his office to get another file.
As he walked down the hallway, he heard something.
A cough.
Not the small polite kind.
A deep one.
He stopped.
The sound came from around the corner.
Sebastian walked quietly toward it.
Lillian stood near the break room, one hand against the wall as she coughed into her sleeve.
When she noticed him, she immediately straightened.
The coughing stopped instantly.
"Mr. Wolfe," she said quickly.
Sebastian crossed his arms.
"You're sick."
"No, I'm not."
"You just tried to cough quietly like a criminal."
"I'm fine."
He stepped closer.
"You're pale."
"I'm always pale."
"You're exhausted."
"I worked late."
Sebastian narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You're sick."
She shook her head.
"It's nothing."
He studied her for another long moment.
But eventually he stepped back.
"Go home early," he said.
"That's not necessary."
"That wasn't a suggestion."
Lillian opened her mouth to argue.
But he had already turned and walked back toward his office.
By late afternoon, the office had grown quieter.
Most employees were finishing their final tasks of the day.
Lillian stood from her desk to bring another report into Sebastian's office.
But the moment she stood—
The room tilted slightly.
Her vision blurred.
She grabbed the edge of her desk quickly.
Her heart pounded in her ears.
Just for a second.
Just a moment of dizziness.
She took a breath.
"I'm fine," she whispered to herself.
Across the room, Sebastian stepped out of his office.
He saw her immediately.
The way she was gripping the desk.
The way her shoulders looked unsteady.
"Lillian."
His voice cut through the quiet office.
She looked up.
"I'm fine," she said again quickly.
But the floor shifted under her feet.
Sebastian's expression darkened instantly.
And he began walking toward her.