Morning arrived quietly at the mansion.
Sunlight spilled through the massive glass windows, stretching across the marble floors in long golden lines. The gardens outside were calm, the tall iron gates closed and guarded as always.
Inside the mansion, everything seemed peaceful.
But Izana knew better.
He stood in his office, one hand resting on the desk as he read through reports spread across the dark wood surface. The secret police had already started moving again. Increased surveillance. New patrols in several districts.
They were angry.
Embarrassed.
And that made them dangerous.
A knock sounded against the office door.
Once.
Short.
Controlled.
"Come in."
The door opened and Dante stepped inside.
His expression was neutral, but there was something behind it.
Something slightly irritated.
Izana didn't look up from the report in his hand.
"What is it?"
Dante crossed the room slowly.
"Caesar asked to see you."
That made Izana pause.
The paper in his hand lowered slightly.
Silence settled in the office.
Dante continued.
"He heard about yesterday."
Izana's expression darkened almost imperceptibly.
Of course he had.
Information moved quickly inside the mansion.
Caesar lying in a hospital bed hadn't stopped him from keeping track of everything happening around him.
Izana placed the report back on the desk.
"And?"
"He specifically asked for you."
Another pause.
Dante leaned casually against the wall.
"Sounded amused."
Izana let out a quiet breath through his nose.
Of course he was amused.
Caesar had always enjoyed watching him struggle.
Even when Izana was a child.
Especially then.
Izana pushed himself away from the desk.
"Fine."
Dante straightened slightly.
"You sure you want to entertain him?"
Izana walked toward the door.
"I'm not."
He opened it.
"I'm ending the conversation."
The medical corridor was located on the far side of the mansion.
Most people never walked through it.
The atmosphere changed the moment Izana stepped into the hallway.
The lighting was brighter here.
Clinical.
White walls.
Polished floors.
The faint scent of antiseptic lingered in the air.
Several medical rooms lined the corridor.
Private.
Secure.
Two guards stood outside one particular door.
They immediately stepped aside when Izana approached.
Izana didn't slow down.
He opened the door and stepped inside.
Caesar was awake.
He sat upright in the hospital bed, surrounded by quiet machines that monitored his condition.
The damage done to him was obvious.
The missing limbs were impossible to ignore.
But despite everything…
His eyes were sharp.
Alert.
Calculating.
The moment Izana entered, Caesar looked up.
A slow smirk appeared on his face.
"So it's true."
Izana closed the door behind him.
"What is?"
Caesar tilted his head slightly.
"I heard you got captured."
Izana walked a few steps into the room.
"Briefly."
Caesar's gaze moved across his face.
Taking in the faint bruising.
The healing cut on his lip.
Then he chuckled quietly.
"Not your best performance."
The room grew colder.
Izana stopped near the end of the bed.
"You called me here to say that?"
Caesar shrugged slightly.
Or as much as his condition allowed.
"I was curious."
Izana's voice dropped.
"Next time, satisfy your curiosity somewhere else."
Caesar watched him carefully.
The smirk didn't fade.
"You survived."
Izana's eyes narrowed.
"Disappointing?"
Caesar let out a quiet laugh.
"Maybe."
Silence stretched between them.
The tension was thick enough to suffocate the room.
Then Caesar spoke again.
"You used to break easier."
The words were soft.
But they carried weight.
Heavy.
Ugly.
Memories that Izana had buried long ago.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"Be careful."
The warning in his voice was unmistakable.
For a brief moment, even Caesar went quiet.
Then he exhaled slowly.
"Relax."
He leaned his head back against the pillow.
"I didn't call you here to reminisce."
Izana said nothing.
But he stayed.
After a moment, Caesar continued.
"They knew where you were."
Izana's gaze sharpened slightly.
"They got lucky."
Caesar chuckled again.
"Secret police don't rely on luck."
He looked directly at Izana.
"They knew exactly where to find you."
The words hung in the air.
Izana's expression remained controlled.
But he listened.
Caesar's voice lowered slightly.
"That means someone told them."
A pause.
"Or someone is watching you very closely."
The door opened softly behind them.
Both men looked up.
Leah stepped into the room.
She froze slightly when she felt the tension.
Her blonde hair caught the bright hospital lights.
Her eyes moved between the two men.
Caesar noticed her immediately.
His gaze lingered for a moment before he spoke.
"So this is the woman."
Leah didn't look intimidated.
She stepped further into the room.
Stopping beside Izana.
Caesar studied her.
Calm.
Observant.
"I heard you had the entire city searching yesterday."
Leah met his gaze without hesitation.
"He was missing."
Her voice was steady.
Simple.
Caesar watched her for another moment.
Then he chuckled softly.
"Interesting."
Izana didn't look at him.
"Are you finished?"
Caesar ignored the question.
Instead, he looked at Izana again.
Longer this time.
Like he was studying something.
Then he said quietly,
"You're planning something."
Izana didn't respond.
Caesar's smirk slowly returned.
"Whatever it is…"
He paused.
"…don't die before you finish it."
Izana turned toward the door.
The conversation was over.
Leah followed him into the hallway.
The medical corridor felt colder than before.
The bright lights reflected off the polished floors as they walked.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Leah looked at him.
"Did he say something to upset you?"
Izana stopped walking.
His expression remained calm.
Controlled.
But his voice was quiet.
"He's still alive."
Leah didn't push further.
They left the corridor together.
The mansion slowly returned to silence.
Later that night, Izana sat alone in his office.
The city lights glittered through the massive windows.
Quiet.
Endless.
His hand opened the desk drawer.
The velvet box rested inside.
He lifted it slowly.
The diamond ring caught the light.
Bright.
Sharp.
A future that had nothing to do with the past.
Izana closed the box again.
And placed it back inside the drawer.
Soon.