Morning sunlight filtered softly through the curtains.
The rain from yesterday had finally stopped.
Everything felt quiet.
Warm.
Peaceful.
Lillian stood in front of the mirror fixing the sleeve of her blazer.
The bedroom still carried traces of sleep.
Soft blankets.
Dim lighting.
Sebastian asleep in the bed behind her.
She glanced at him through the reflection.
His dark hair was messy against the pillow.
One arm stretched loosely across the mattress where she had been earlier.
Still asleep.
Still exhausted.
Lillian's expression softened instantly.
Because even sleeping peacefully like this still felt rare for him.
For once:
no tension in his face
no restless shifting
no nightmares
Just sleep.
Real sleep.
Lillian quietly picked up her bag from the chair nearby.
Then walked back toward the bed.
Very carefully, she sat down beside him.
Sebastian didn't wake immediately.
Lillian gently brushed her fingers through his hair first.
Then leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against his cheek.
This time Sebastian stirred.
Brows pulling together slightly.
His eyes slowly opened.
Still sleepy.
Still unfocused.
"…Lillian?"
His voice sounded rough from sleep.
Lillian smiled softly down at him.
"Morning."
Sebastian blinked slowly.
Then his eyes drifted over her properly.
The blazer.
The neatly styled hair.
Her bag.
Understanding settled across his face.
"You're leaving."
Lillian gently cupped his cheek.
"I have to go to Sovereign for a few hours."
Sebastian frowned faintly immediately.
Still half asleep.
Still clearly not liking that.
Lillian smiled slightly at the expression.
"You'll survive without me for one workday."
Sebastian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Debatable."
Lillian laughed quietly.
Then brushed her thumb lightly across his cheek.
"Remember what I said."
Sebastian already looked mildly offended.
"Don't work."
Silence.
"Sebastian."
"I wasn't going to."
She gave him a look.
Sebastian sighed softly.
"…Fine."
"And take your medication on time."
Another sigh.
"And I already made breakfast and lunch for you."
That actually surprised him slightly.
His expression softened quietly.
Lillian smiled at that.
"You just need to heat it up."
Sebastian looked at her silently for a moment.
Then very slowly—
he leaned forward slightly.
Weak from sickness still.
And pressed a soft kiss near the corner of her mouth.
Missing her lips intentionally.
Lillian blinked softly in surprise.
Sebastian pulled back slightly afterward.
"…Don't want you getting sick."
The words came out quiet.
Almost awkward.
But genuine.
Something warm settled in Lillian's chest immediately.
She gently touched his cheek again.
"You're cute when you're worried."
Sebastian instantly looked unimpressed.
"I'm serious."
"I know."
Lillian leaned down again and kissed his forehead softly this time.
"Rest."
Sebastian quietly watched her stand back up.
Still looking sleepy beneath the blankets.
Lillian picked up her bag.
Then walked toward the bedroom door.
But before leaving—
she looked back one more time.
Sebastian was still laying there watching her.
Dark hair messy.
Blankets pulled loosely around him.
Still pale from being sick.
But safe.
Home.
Lillian gave him one last small smile.
Then finally left the room.
Sovereign looked exactly the same as always.
Cold glass.
Sharp steel.
Busy.
Professional.
Lillian stepped out of the elevator onto the executive floor.
Immediately, heads turned slightly.
Not unusual.
Everyone knew her.
But today felt different.
Because Sebastian wasn't beside her.
Lillian walked calmly toward her desk positioned directly outside Sebastian's glass office.
The office itself remained dark behind her.
Empty.
That alone felt strange.
Sebastian Wolfe was always here.
Even sick.
Even exhausted.
Even injured.
He worked through everything.
Which was exactly why nobody expected him to suddenly disappear for a week.
Lillian set her bag down calmly.
Then deliberately waited.
Employees slowly filtered onto the floor one by one.
Chloe arrived shortly after.
The moment Chloe noticed Sebastian's office empty, her gaze shifted immediately toward Lillian.
Lillian gave a small nod.
Chloe understood instantly.
After a while the entire executive floor was fully occupied.
Phones ringing softly.
Typing.
Quiet conversations.
Lillian stood up.
"Can I have everyone's attention for a moment?"
The room quieted almost immediately.
Workers looked up from their desks.
Even Chloe paused.
Lillian kept her posture calm and professional.
"Mr. Wolfe will be on leave for the next week due to illness."
Silence.
Visible surprise spread across several faces immediately.
One employee blinked.
"A week?"
Another looked genuinely confused.
"Mr. Wolfe took leave?"
Because Sebastian never did that.
Ever.
Even with fevers.
Even after injuries.
Even after working three days without sleep.
He still came in.
Lillian noticed every reaction quietly.
Then continued calmly.
"During his absence, Mr. Wolfe has left me in charge of Sovereign operations."
That shifted the atmosphere instantly.
Nobody questioned it.
Because everyone already knew:
Lillian was Sebastian's right hand
he trusted her more than anyone
she was already heavily involved in company operations
Still—
hearing it formally carried weight.
Lillian's expression remained composed.
"If there are any issues requiring executive approval, bring them directly to me."
Everyone nodded immediately.
Professional.
Respectful.
Then gradually the floor returned to work.
Typing resumed.
Phones ringing again.
Conversations restarting.
Lillian finally sat back down at her desk.
A quiet breath leaving her.
Then footsteps approached.
Chloe.
She stopped beside the desk quietly.
"How is he?"
Lillian's expression softened slightly immediately.
"Better."
Chloe relaxed a little hearing that.
"He's still weak though," Lillian admitted quietly.
"But the fever's mostly gone now."
Chloe nodded slowly.
"That's good."
Lillian glanced briefly toward Sebastian's empty office behind the glass walls.
The sight still felt strange.
Chloe noticed her looking.
"He probably hates being home right now."
Lillian actually smiled slightly.
"He already tried working yesterday."
Chloe immediately snorted softly.
"Of course he did."
"I caught him in his office."
Chloe shook her head.
"That man genuinely doesn't know how to rest."
Lillian's expression softened quietly.
"…No," she murmured.
"I don't think he does."
And somehow—
that thought hurt more now than it used to.