Afternoon light filled the bedroom softly.
Rain still tapped quietly against the windows.
Everything felt warm.
Still.
Peaceful.
Sebastian woke slowly.
For a moment he didn't move.
Didn't open his eyes fully.
Just felt warmth beside him.
Then gradually—
his eyes opened.
Lillian was asleep next to him.
Still curled slightly toward him beneath the blankets.
One arm resting loosely near where he had been laying moments ago.
Her hair spilled across the pillow softly.
Sebastian stared at her quietly.
Something gentle settled in his chest.
Because nobody had ever stayed beside him like this before.
Not through sickness.
Not through weakness.
Not without wanting something in return.
But Lillian had.
Without hesitation.
Sebastian's expression softened.
Very carefully, he leaned closer and pressed a weak kiss against the top of her head.
Lillian stirred faintly in her sleep but didn't wake.
Sebastian stayed there for another moment.
Just watching her.
Then slowly—
he pushed himself upright.
Immediately regretting it.
Pain pulled through his chest faintly.
A cough escaped him.
He pressed a hand lightly against his ribs until it eased.
Still weak.
But better.
Much better than before.
Sebastian quietly got out of bed.
Careful not to wake Lillian.
He grabbed a dark sweater from the chair nearby and slowly left the bedroom.
The mansion was quiet downstairs.
Empty.
Safe.
Sebastian walked slowly through the halls until he reached his office.
The second he stepped inside—
something inside him settled automatically.
Work.
Routine.
Control.
That was what he knew.
What he understood.
Sebastian lowered himself carefully into the chair behind the desk.
Then opened his laptop immediately.
Emails.
Reports.
Messages.
Missed calls.
Days worth of them.
His expression remained calm as he began reading through everything quickly.
Like none of the past week had happened.
Like he could simply step back into being Sebastian Wolfe again.
Then he opened the Henderson file.
And paused.
Sebastian frowned slightly.
The interface proposal had been reinstated.
Not only reinstated—
improved.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned the changes carefully.
Updated projections.
Reworked presentation structure.
Corrected weak points.
Negotiation leverage strengthened.
Everything seamlessly done.
Sebastian stared quietly at the screen.
Because he hadn't touched any of this.
And there was only one other person with full access.
Lillian.
Something warm moved quietly through his chest.
She had done this while he was gone.
While searching for him.
While staying beside him.
She still protected Sovereign too.
Sebastian leaned back slightly in the chair.
Looking at the screen silently.
Then very quietly—
he smiled.
Small.
Real.
Upstairs, Lillian woke suddenly.
The bed beside her was empty.
She sat up immediately.
Still half asleep at first.
Then fully awake.
"Sebastian?"
No answer.
Lillian's chest tightened instantly.
She threw the blankets off herself and quickly got out of bed.
Because Sebastian was still weak.
Still recovering.
What if he collapsed?
What if he pushed himself too hard?
Lillian checked the bathroom first.
Empty.
Then the sitting room.
Nothing.
Her worry only grew.
She moved downstairs quickly.
Then finally—
light underneath the office door.
Lillian stopped.
Already knowing.
She slowly pushed the door open.
And there he was.
Sitting behind the desk.
Working.
Lillian stared at him for a second in disbelief.
Sebastian looked up calmly when he noticed her.
Like this was completely normal.
Lillian walked straight toward the desk.
Closed the laptop immediately.
Sebastian blinked once.
"…Lillian."
"You should be in bed."
Her voice wasn't angry exactly.
More exhausted.
Sebastian stayed quiet.
Lillian crossed her arms slightly.
"You're still sick."
"I'm better."
"You coughed so hard you were coughing blood two days ago."
Sebastian didn't answer that.
Which annoyed her more.
Lillian sighed softly.
"You're impossible."
Sebastian looked at her quietly for a moment.
Then unexpectedly—
he stood.
Slowly walked around the desk.
And wrapped his arms around her.
Lillian froze slightly in surprise.
Sebastian held onto her carefully.
Still weak.
Still warm from lingering fever.
But steady.
"…Thank you," he said quietly.
Lillian blinked softly.
"For what?"
"The Henderson deal."
His voice stayed low near her shoulder.
"You got it back."
Lillian's expression softened immediately.
Slowly, she hugged him back.
Her arms wrapping carefully around him.
"You worked hard on it," she said quietly.
"I wasn't going to let it disappear."
Sebastian held her a little tighter for a second.
Like those words meant more than she realised.
After a while Lillian gently pulled back slightly.
Then immediately gave him a look again.
"You're still not allowed to work."
Sebastian sighed faintly.
"Lillian—."
"No."
"It's only emails."
"No."
"A few meetings—."
"No."
Sebastian looked genuinely offended now.
Which almost made her laugh.
"I run Sovereign."
"And you nearly collapsed walking downstairs."
Sebastian opened his mouth again.
Lillian pointed toward the door immediately.
"Bed."
"…You're very controlling."
"You're impossible."
Sebastian actually looked slightly amused by that.
Just slightly.
Lillian softened a little seeing it.
Then stepped closer again.
"You need rest."
Sebastian looked away slightly.
Still clearly wanting to argue.
Because work was all he knew.
Resting probably felt wrong to him.
Unproductive.
Unsafe even.
Lillian gently took his hand.
"Stay home for a week."
Sebastian immediately frowned.
"A week?"
"Yes."
"That's excessive."
"You were locked in a freezing room for four days and developed a severe chest infection."
Sebastian went quiet.
Lillian squeezed his hand softly.
"I'll handle Sovereign."
That got his attention immediately.
Sebastian looked back at her.
"You already have your own work."
"I can manage both temporarily."
"You shouldn't have to."
"But I want to."
Silence.
Sebastian stared at her quietly.
Like he still struggled understanding someone willingly helping him.
Lillian stepped closer.
"You take care of everyone else constantly," she said softly.
"Let someone take care of you for once."
That finally broke through.
Sebastian lowered his eyes slightly.
Then after a long moment—
"…One week."
Lillian smiled immediately.
"Good."
Sebastian sighed softly like he already regretted agreeing.
But he didn't take it back.
Lillian gently brushed her fingers through his hair once.
Then tilted her head slightly.
"Are you hungry?"
Sebastian hesitated.
Then quietly nodded.
Lillian's expression softened completely.
"There's my honest answer."
Sebastian looked faintly embarrassed by that.
Lillian smiled warmly.
Then leaned up and kissed the side of his head softly.
"Go rest in the living room."
Sebastian looked at her carefully.
"And you?"
"I'm making your favourite."
Something surprised flickered briefly across his face.
Small.
Soft.
Like he wasn't used to someone remembering things like that.
Lillian gently nudged him toward the door.
"Go."
Sebastian obeyed this time.
Too tired to argue much more.
Lillian watched him walk slowly toward the living room.
Still weak.
Still recovering.
But home.
Safe.
And no longer alone.