The mansion was quiet.
Too quiet.
Lillian stood in the middle of the living room, looking around like she was mentally planning everything that needed to change.
Medication.
Rest schedule.
Food.
Preventing Sebastian from working himself back into surgery.
Behind her, Sebastian was still sitting in the chair near the desk, watching her with a suspicious expression.
"You're thinking too loudly," he said.
Lillian blinked and looked at him.
"That's not a thing."
"It is when you're planning something."
"I'm not planning anything."
Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
"Miss Parker."
"Yes?"
"You confiscated my laptop, dismissed my nurse, and announced you're moving into my house."
She smiled politely.
"Yes."
"You're planning something."
She ignored that.
Instead, she picked up the laptop from the desk.
Sebastian's eyes immediately narrowed.
"What are you doing with that?"
"I'm taking it."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
She walked toward the door.
Sebastian leaned forward.
"Miss Parker."
She turned.
He pointed at the laptop.
"You're not leaving with that."
"Yes, I am."
"That belongs to me."
"And you can have it back when you stop trying to run a corporation while recovering from spinal surgery."
His jaw tightened.
"You're enjoying this."
"A little."
He leaned back in the chair with a sigh.
"Where exactly are you going?"
"I need to get my things."
"From where?"
"Chloe's apartment."
Sebastian frowned.
"Why would your belongings be at Miss Jones' apartment?"
Lillian paused for a moment.
Then she answered calmly.
"Because I've been staying there."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Why?"
She hesitated.
Then sighed.
"Because I broke up with Ethan."
Sebastian went very still.
"Your boyfriend."
"Ex-boyfriend."
Silence filled the room.
Sebastian leaned back slowly.
"And you've been living with Miss Jones since."
"Yes."
He studied her face for a moment.
"You didn't mention that."
"It didn't seem relevant."
"You were homeless."
"I was not homeless."
"You were living on someone else's couch."
"That's not the same thing."
Sebastian tilted his head slightly.
"…Interesting."
Lillian narrowed her eyes.
"Don't analyze it."
"I'm not."
"You absolutely are."
He smirked faintly.
"Maybe."
She pointed at him.
"Don't move."
He blinked.
"…What?"
"Don't work. Don't go to your office. Don't start opening random drawers looking for another laptop."
Sebastian looked offended.
"I would not do that."
"You absolutely would."
She walked toward the door again.
"And where exactly do you think you're going with my laptop?"
"Chloe's apartment."
"That wasn't a real question."
She smiled sweetly.
"I know."
Sebastian leaned back in the chair with a long sigh.
"This is blackmail."
"This is healthcare."
"You're abusing your authority."
"You gave me the authority when you refused the nurse."
"I did no such thing."
She opened the door.
"Go rest in bed."
"I don't need rest."
"You do."
"I'll be fine."
She pointed upstairs.
"Bed."
He crossed his arms.
"No."
"Mr. Wolfe."
"No."
"Sebastian."
"Miss Parker."
They stared at each other.
Finally she shook her head.
"Just… try."
He said nothing.
She stepped outside.
"Oh, and if I come back and find you working—."
He cut her off.
"You'll confiscate my phone too."
"Exactly."
She closed the door behind her.
Sebastian stared at the empty doorway.
Then muttered to himself,
"…Unbelievable."
Twenty minutes later, Lillian pulled up outside Chloe's apartment.
She grabbed Sebastian's laptop from the passenger seat and walked inside.
Chloe was sitting on the couch watching television.
She looked up immediately.
"Well, that was fast."
Lillian walked straight past her.
"I need a suitcase."
Chloe frowned.
"…Why?"
Lillian disappeared into the bedroom.
Chloe followed her.
Lillian had already opened the closet and started pulling clothes down.
Chloe leaned against the doorframe.
"…Why are you packing?"
"I'm moving."
Chloe's eyes widened.
"Moving?"
"Temporarily."
"To where?"
Lillian zipped open a suitcase.
"Sebastian's mansion."
Silence.
Chloe blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then slowly smiled.
"Oh."
Lillian paused.
"Oh what?"
Chloe crossed her arms.
"So you're moving in with your incredibly attractive billionaire boss."
Lillian groaned.
"That is not what's happening."
Chloe grinned.
"That's exactly what's happening."
"He just had spinal surgery."
"And?"
"I'm helping him recover."
Chloe raised an eyebrow.
"You're living in his mansion."
"Yes."
"Alone."
"Yes."
"With him."
"Yes."
Chloe's smile grew wider.
"This is the best thing that's ever happened."
Lillian threw a sweater into the suitcase.
"Stop it."
Chloe leaned closer.
"You like him."
"I do not."
"You're blushing."
"I am not."
Chloe laughed.
"Oh my god, you totally are."
Lillian zipped the suitcase aggressively.
"I'm not blushing."
"You're moving into his house."
"Temporarily."
"You're taking care of him."
"Yes."
"You confiscated his laptop."
"Yes."
Chloe gasped dramatically.
"That's basically marriage."
Lillian stared at her.
"Chloe."
"Yes?"
"Stop talking."
Chloe leaned against the wall.
"Does he know you're moving in?"
"Yes."
"How did he react?"
"He was… unhappy."
Chloe laughed.
"Of course he was."
Lillian picked up the suitcase.
"I should go."
Chloe followed her to the door.
"You're really staying there?"
"Yes."
"For how long?"
"Until he recovers."
Chloe grinned.
"This is going to be interesting."
Lillian rolled her eyes.
"Goodbye, Chloe."
"Text me if you kiss him."
"That is not happening."
Chloe waved.
"Sure."
An hour later, Lillian pulled back into Sebastian's driveway.
She grabbed her suitcase.
And Sebastian's laptop.
She walked inside the mansion.
The house was quiet again.
Too quiet.
"Mr. Wolfe?" she called.
No answer.
She walked further inside.
Then she saw him.
Sebastian was sitting on the couch in the lounge.
No laptop.
No files.
No phone.
Just sitting there.
Lillian blinked.
"…You're not working."
He looked up at her.
"Congratulations."
She smiled slightly.
"You actually listened."
"Don't get used to it."
She set the suitcase down.
"I told you to rest in bed."
Sebastian looked mildly irritated.
"I attempted that."
"And?"
"I discovered a design flaw in my own house."
Lillian frowned.
"What do you mean?"
He gestured toward the staircase.
"The stairs."
Realization hit her immediately.
"…You couldn't get upstairs."
He leaned back slightly.
"Not without considerable difficulty."
Her stomach tightened.
Of course.
His spine had just been operated on.
Climbing stairs would be painful.
"Why didn't you call me?" she asked.
"You took my laptop."
"That's not the same thing."
"You also threatened to take my phone."
She sighed.
Then walked closer to the stairs and looked up.
His bedroom was on the second floor.
That was going to be a problem.
She turned back to him.
"For now, I'll help you."
Sebastian frowned.
"Help me?"
"With the stairs."
"That's unnecessary."
"You couldn't do it alone."
"I almost did."
"You didn't."
He crossed his arms.
"I will eventually."
"Yes," she said calmly.
"But until then… I'm helping you."
He studied her face.
"You're very determined."
"You're very stubborn."
He sighed quietly.
"…Fine."
Lillian walked over and held out her hand.
"Come on."
He looked at her hand.
Then at her.
"…You're serious."
"Yes."
Sebastian slowly stood.
Pain flashed briefly across his face.
Lillian noticed immediately.
"Careful."
"I'm fine."
"You say that a lot."
"Because it's usually true."
She moved closer.
"Lean on me."
"I'm not leaning."
"You absolutely are."
He hesitated.
Then finally placed a hand lightly on her shoulder.
Lillian supported him as they started toward the staircase.
Step by step.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Sebastian exhaled quietly.
"…This is humiliating."
Lillian smirked slightly.
"You'll survive."
He glanced down at her.
"…You're enjoying this."
"Maybe a little."
But neither of them pulled away.
And for the first time since leaving the hospital—
Sebastian Wolfe allowed someone to help him climb the stairs.