A few days later on the sixth of August.
The morning sunlight streamed through the massive bedroom windows, soft and golden, catching the dust motes dancing lazily in the air.
Leah blinked awake.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Then she noticed the other side of the bed was empty.
Izana wasn't there.
"Izana?"
Her eyes scanned the room, landing on a single white rose lying atop a small folded note on his side of the bed.
She leaned forward carefully and picked them up. The rose was fresh, its petals soft and perfect, almost glowing in the morning light.
Her fingers brushed the note as she unfolded it.
Happy Birthday. Get ready in the bathroom. I have a surprise for you. - Iz.
Her eyes stayed on the word Iz. That was the nickname she had given him after everything returned to normal.
Leah's lips curved into a small smile. He always knew how to start the day right, even when she wasn't sure what to expect.
She stood, rose and note in hand, and walked to the ensuite bathroom.
The marble countertops gleamed, sunlight reflecting off the polished surfaces.
There, waiting for her, was another white rose and a second note.
Beneath them rested a large rectangular box.
She picked up the rose first, tucking it carefully into her fingers, and opened the note.
Open the box. Wear what's inside. I know you'll look beautiful in it. - Iz.
Leah chuckled softly, feeling a warmth spread through her chest.
She set the note down and lifted the lid of the box.
Inside was a dress.
A soft, flowing blue dress, the color of her own eyes.
She held it against her chest, feeling the silky fabric slip through her fingers.
Her smile grew.
"You're impossible," she whispered softly.
After a moment, she set the rose aside and began changing. The dress hugged her form beautifully, delicate enough to feel ethereal, but elegant enough for whatever Izana had planned.
Once dressed, she paused.
What now?
She looked around the bathroom for another note, hoping for guidance.
Her eyes fell back to the box. She knelt to look inside again.
There it was.
A folded piece of paper tucked beneath the folds of the dress.
Leah picked it up and read it aloud quietly:
You should probably eat some breakfast now. - Iz.
She laughed softly, shaking her head.
"You're ridiculous," she murmured.
Downstairs, the mansion smelled of fresh bread and brewing coffee. The soft hum of the morning was punctuated by the clatter of plates as Elias and Dante sat at the long dining table.
"Good morning!" Elias greeted brightly, standing as Leah entered the room.
Dante simply nodded, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"Happy Birthday, Leah," Elias said warmly.
"Thank you," Leah replied, taking a seat. Her eyes scanned the table. No Izana.
"Where is he?" she asked, a trace of worry in her voice.
Dante leaned back slightly, a casual shrug that didn't match the sparkle in his eyes.
"It's a surprise," he said, almost teasingly.
Leah frowned, but before she could press further, Dante gestured toward the table.
"Breakfast first," he said simply.
So she did.
The morning meal was simple but satisfying. Fresh fruit, eggs cooked perfectly, toast warm from the oven.
She ate slowly, trying to guess what Izana had planned.
He was always unpredictable. Always a little… theatrical.
When she finished, Dante stood.
"Follow me," he said.
Leah raised an eyebrow but obeyed.
He led her through the house, past the sleek staircase, down the long hallway, and out into the garden.
The morning air was crisp against her skin. The flowers were blooming, sunlight glinting on dew-drops.
Dante's hand rested lightly on the passenger door of a sleek black car parked at the end of the drive.
He opened the back door.
Leah blinked.
Inside was a massive bouquet of white roses and forget-me-nots.
Her breath caught.
And there, atop the blooms, was another note.
She picked it up, reading carefully:
You'll see me soon. I love you. - Iz.
A warmth surged through her chest, a mixture of anticipation, relief, and something deeper she couldn't name.
She set the note down gently on her lap.
Her fingers brushed the petals of the bouquet, inhaling the soft fragrance of roses and the faint, sweet scent of forget-me-nots.
She looked up at Dante, whose expression was unreadable, but she could sense his amusement.
"Ready?" he asked.
Leah nodded.
Dante closed the door behind her.
The engine started with a soft purr, and the car pulled away from the mansion.
City streets stretched before them, bathed in the soft morning glow.
Leah held the bouquet carefully, the flowers brushing against her dress.
She thought of Izana. Of how he had planned all of this.
Even after the chaos, the capture, the danger—they were here. Together.
Her eyes glimmered with unshed tears.
She didn't know what the day held.
But she trusted him.
And somehow, she knew it would be unforgettable.
The car turned down a quieter street.
The city hummed softly around them.
Leah adjusted the flowers in her lap, taking in their beauty.
A soft smile lingered on her lips.
"Izana," she whispered, as if speaking to him might somehow bring him closer even before he appeared.
Dante stole a glance at her.
"Soon," he said, a hint of a smirk in his voice.
Leah's grip on the bouquet tightened slightly.
She didn't need more than that promise.
Soon.
Her heart raced with anticipation.
The morning felt endless.
Yet she remained calm.
Because she knew him.
And she trusted him.
And when he appeared…
It would be perfect.
The car moved steadily through the streets.
And for the first time that day, Leah allowed herself to breathe fully.
Her birthday had only just begun.
But the promise of Izana's surprise made the entire world feel alive.
The flowers rested gently in her lap, the petals soft against her fingers, as if even they were holding their breath, waiting.
And so she waited.