The mansion was quiet.
Too quiet.
The kind of silence that settled deep into the walls—
controlled.
Waiting.
The car came to a slow stop in the courtyard.
Guards were already in position.
Doors opened before the engine fully died.
Dante stepped out first.
Then moved to the back.
Careful.
Measured.
He opened the door and reached for the wheelchair.
Izana didn't speak.
Didn't argue this time.
He let Dante help him out.
The moment he was settled—
they moved.
Straight inside.
No delays.
No unnecessary words.
The doors opened one after another.
Staff stepped aside instantly.
"…Boss."
No response.
The wheels moved steadily across the marble floor.
Controlled.
Precise.
Toward the medical corridor.
Leah was already there.
She hadn't left.
Not really.
Sitting in the armchair beside his bed.
Back straight.
Hands resting lightly over her stomach.
Waiting.
The moment the door opened—
she stood.
Immediately.
Her eyes found him.
Checked him.
Quickly.
Carefully.
"…You're back."
Izana's gaze settled on her.
Steady.
"…I told you I would be."
Something in her shoulders loosened.
Just slightly.
But it didn't last.
Her eyes moved over him again.
Searching.
"…You shouldn't have gone."
Dante helped guide the wheelchair beside the bed.
Izana's tone stayed calm.
Unmoved.
"…It's handled."
Leah frowned faintly.
"…That's not what I meant."
He didn't answer that.
Didn't argue it either.
He shifted slightly.
Preparing to stand.
Leah moved instantly.
"…Don't."
Her hand was already on his arm.
Steadying him.
"…You're not doing that on your own."
Izana glanced at her.
"…I can manage."
Leah didn't move.
Didn't let go.
"…No."
A pause.
"…You can't."
Silence.
Then—
he didn't argue.
Dante stepped in, helping him carefully.
Slow.
Controlled.
Every movement measured.
Leah stayed close.
Watching.
Ready to catch him if he needed it.
When he finally settled back onto the bed—
there was a quiet shift in the room.
Like something had reset.
Leah exhaled softly.
Then moved back to the armchair.
But not fully.
Still close.
Still within reach.
"…Don't move too fast."
Izana glanced at her.
"…You repeat that a lot."
Leah leaned back slightly.
"…Because you don't listen."
A pause.
Then quieter—
"…And I'd like you to stay alive."
Izana didn't respond to that.
But his gaze lingered on her for a second longer.
Then shifted.
To her stomach.
His hand moved.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Resting gently over the curve of her bump.
"…He's been quiet."
Leah shook her head slightly.
"…No."
A small breath.
"…He hasn't stopped."
Izana's thumb moved faintly.
"…Restless."
Leah nodded.
"…He didn't like that you left."
A pause.
Her eyes lifted to him.
"…Neither did I."
Silence settled between them again.
Not tense.
But not light either.
Izana's voice came quieter this time.
"…I won't leave like that again."
Leah watched him carefully.
Studying him.
Then—
"…You will."
A pause.
Not accusing.
Just honest.
Izana didn't argue.
Leah continued.
"…Just don't make it feel like goodbye next time."
That landed.
He didn't respond immediately.
His hand stayed where it was.
Grounded.
Then—
"…It wasn't."
Leah didn't push that.
Didn't challenge it.
She just shifted slightly in her chair.
Adjusting.
Her hand resting over his.
Still on her stomach.
"…He calmed down when you touched him."
Izana didn't look away.
"…He listens."
A pause.
Leah's voice softened.
"…So do I."
Silence.
Then—
something changed.
Small.
Subtle.
Leah's expression shifted.
Just slightly.
Her brows pulling together faintly.
Her hand pressed a little more firmly against her stomach.
"…Wait…"
Izana noticed instantly.
His gaze snapped to her.
"…What is it."
Leah didn't answer right away.
Her breathing slowed.
Like she was trying to understand it.
"…That felt… strange."
Izana straightened slightly.
Ignoring the pull in his body.
"…Explain."
Leah shook her head faintly.
"…I don't know…"
A pause.
Her fingers pressed more firmly now.
"…It just—."
She stopped.
A sharp inhale.
Her body tensed.
"…Iz…"
That was different.
Not uncertainty.
Not confusion.
Pain.
Immediate.
Clear.
Izana's expression didn't change—
but his entire focus shifted.
Locked.
"…Where."
Leah's hand stayed against her stomach.
Her voice tighter now.
"…It hurts."
Silence.
A beat.
Then—
another wave hit.
Stronger.
Leah winced.
Her shoulders tensing.
Her grip tightening against the chair.
"…mm—."
Izana moved immediately.
Ignoring the strain.
Sitting up further.
"…Stay still."
His hand was already over hers.
Pressing lightly.
Grounding.
"…Doctor."
His voice cut through the room.
Cold.
Sharp.
Immediate.
"…Now."
Dante was already moving.
Out the door before the word fully settled.
Leah shook her head faintly.
Trying to steady her breathing.
"…It's probably nothing…"
Another sharp pain hit.
Stronger.
Her body folded forward slightly.
Her grip tightening.
"…Iz—."
That was enough.
More than enough.
His hand pressed more firmly over her stomach.
Protective.
Instinctive.
"…Look at me."
Leah tried.
Her breathing uneven now.
"…It hurts…"
A pause.
Her voice dropped.
Smaller.
"…Something's wrong."
The words settled heavily.
Izana didn't respond to that.
Didn't acknowledge it.
His focus didn't waver.
"…Stay still."
His voice was lower now.
Controlled.
But tighter.
Then—
Leah froze.
Her expression shifting again.
Different this time.
Not pain.
Something else.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…Wait…"
Izana's grip tightened instantly.
"…What."
Leah's hand pressed against her stomach again.
Her breathing caught.
"…He's not—."
A pause.
Her voice dropped.
Unsteady.
"…He's not moving."
Silence.
Complete.
Izana's hand stilled.
Just for a second.
Then pressed again.
Slightly firmer.
Like he could force a response.
"…Zarek."
Nothing.
Leah's breathing grew uneven.
"…He was just—he was moving—."
The door burst open.
Medical staff rushed in.
Fast.
Efficient.
No hesitation.
"…We need space."
Izana didn't move.
Didn't shift.
"…Check him."
The doctor stepped forward immediately.
Kneeling beside Leah.
"…We need to examine you."
Leah didn't take her eyes off Izana.
Her hand gripping his now.
"…Izana…"
He held it instantly.
Firm.
Unyielding.
"…I'm here."
The doctor spoke again.
Faster now.
"…We need to act quickly."
The words cut through everything.
Sharp.
Final.
Leah's grip tightened.
Her breathing uneven.
Eyes wide.
Fear settling in fully now.
Izana didn't look away from her.
Not for a second.
His hand stayed over hers.
Still pressed to her stomach.
Like he refused to let go—
of either of them.
And for the first time—
since everything began—
control wasn't enough.
Because this—
this wasn't something he could fight.
The room moved around them.
Voices.
Hands.
Urgency.
But Izana didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Didn't let go.
His voice came low.
Barely above a whisper.
But steady.
"…Stay with me."
Leah nodded faintly.
Tears finally slipping free.
"…Don't let anything happen…"
Izana's grip tightened.
Just slightly.
"…Nothing will."
But the doctor's voice cut in again—
sharper this time.
More urgent.
"…We need to move. Now."