By the time dinner ended, the rain outside had become heavier.
Water rolled down the massive windows of the mansion while thunder rumbled quietly somewhere far away in the distance.
The atmosphere inside, however, felt warm.
Comfortable.
Surprisingly normal.
Lillian sat beside Sebastian near the end of the dining table while Caroline and Thomas sat across from them.
At first, Lillian had expected the evening to feel awkward.
Especially considering Sebastian usually hated people being inside his home for too long.
But somehow—
it hadn't.
Sebastian had been quieter than everyone else, but calmer than she expected.
And her parents seemed to genuinely like him.
Even Thomas, who usually stayed slightly protective whenever it came to Lillian, looked more relaxed now.
Still observant.
But relaxed.
Caroline smiled softly while setting her wine glass down.
"This food is amazing."
Lillian smiled faintly.
"The chef here is incredible."
Sebastian looked over quietly.
"You cooked yesterday."
Lillian blinked slightly.
Then laughed softly.
"That's because you were sick."
Thomas raised an eyebrow slightly.
"So she's been cooking for you personally?"
Sebastian answered before Lillian could.
"Yes."
The simple response made Lillian glance at him briefly.
Because there was something strangely soft about the way he said it.
Like he still couldn't quite believe someone had done that for him.
Caroline noticed too.
"You seem very attached to our daughter," she said lightly.
Lillian immediately looked slightly embarrassed.
"Mom."
Sebastian, however, didn't even deny it.
His eyes moved briefly toward Lillian before calmly answering:
"I am."
Lillian's chest tightened softly.
And once again—
there it was.
That quiet honesty.
That openness.
Everything except the actual words.
Caroline smiled warmly.
Clearly pleased with the answer.
The conversation continued for a while after that.
Mostly light topics.
Thomas asked Sebastian a few questions about Sovereign.
Sebastian answered calmly and intelligently despite obvious exhaustion beginning to settle into his expression.
Lillian noticed it immediately.
The slight heaviness in his eyes.
The slower responses.
The faint cough he tried to hide behind his hand.
By the time dessert arrived, Sebastian had barely touched it.
Lillian looked over at him carefully.
"You're tired."
Sebastian looked back at her.
"I'm alright."
"You're falling asleep sitting up."
"That's slightly dramatic."
Lillian gave him a look.
Sebastian sighed quietly in surrender.
Thomas noticed the interaction immediately.
And more importantly—
he noticed Sebastian actually listened to her.
That seemed rare.
Lillian gently touched Sebastian's arm.
"You should sleep."
Sebastian looked like he wanted to argue.
Then another cough escaped him.
Longer this time.
His hand pressed briefly against his chest afterward.
Lillian's expression softened instantly.
"Sebastian."
"…Fine."
Caroline almost smiled seeing how easily Lillian managed him.
Because for someone so composed and intimidating professionally—
Sebastian became strangely compliant around her daughter.
Lillian stood slowly.
"I'll help you upstairs."
Sebastian rose from his chair carefully.
Too carefully.
Thomas noticed the slight unsteadiness immediately.
But Sebastian recovered quickly enough that nobody commented on it.
Before leaving the dining room, Thomas finally looked at the time.
"We should probably head home."
"It's late," Sebastian said quietly before Thomas could stand properly.
Everyone paused slightly.
Even Lillian.
Sebastian looked toward Thomas and Caroline calmly.
"You can stay here tonight."
Silence.
Lillian blinked softly in surprise.
Because Sebastian never invited people to stay.
Especially not while he was vulnerable like this.
Caroline looked genuinely touched.
"That's very kind of you."
Sebastian simply nodded once.
Like it wasn't a big deal.
But Lillian knew better.
He was trying.
For her.
Thomas eventually agreed after Caroline pointed out the rain outside was becoming worse anyway.
Soon afterward, the staff escorted Caroline and Thomas toward the guest rooms while Lillian helped Sebastian upstairs.
The moment the bedroom door closed behind them, Sebastian's exhaustion became more obvious immediately.
His shoulders dropped slightly.
Another cough escaped him.
Lillian frowned softly.
"You pushed yourself too much tonight."
"They're your parents."
"That doesn't mean you had to stay downstairs the entire evening."
Sebastian sat slowly on the edge of the bed.
"They are important to you."
The simple answer made Lillian's chest ache quietly.
Again.
Always these quiet actions.
These silent ways he loved her.
Lillian stepped closer and gently pushed his dark hair back from his forehead.
Still slightly warm.
But not feverish anymore.
"That doesn't mean you ignore your health."
Sebastian looked up at her quietly.
"I'm better."
"You're recovering."
There was a difference.
Lillian moved toward the bedside table and picked up his medication and water.
Sebastian accepted both without complaint this time.
Progress.
After taking the medication, he leaned back slightly against the headboard while Lillian adjusted the blankets around him.
"You're staring," Sebastian murmured quietly.
Lillian blinked slightly.
"…Am I?"
"Yes."
"What if I said I was making sure you're alive?"
"That's slightly concerning."
Lillian laughed softly under her breath.
Then leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss against his forehead.
"Sleep."
Sebastian's eyes softened immediately at the touch.
"You too."
Eventually, the room lights dimmed.
Rain continued outside.
And sometime later—
the mansion fell completely silent.
Hours passed.
Until sometime after midnight, Caroline woke quietly.
For a moment she stayed still beneath the blankets, listening to the rain outside.
Then sighed softly.
Thirsty.
Carefully, she climbed out of bed so she wouldn't wake Thomas.
The hallway outside was dark except for soft wall lighting.
Everything felt peaceful.
Still.
Caroline walked quietly toward the stairs.
But as she passed Sebastian and Lillian's room—
she slowed.
Because she heard something.
At first she thought Sebastian was coughing again.
But then—
a strained sound reached her ears.
Like someone struggling in sleep.
A weak, frightened voice.
"…No…"
Caroline frowned slightly.
Then she heard movement inside the room.
Restless movement.
Uneven breathing.
Another strained whisper.
"Please…"
Her chest tightened immediately.
Then Lillian's voice came softly through the door.
"Sebastian."
Gentle.
Calm.
Awake immediately.
"It's okay," Lillian whispered softly.
"You're safe."
Caroline stood frozen quietly outside the slightly open doorway.
Then another sound came from Sebastian.
A broken frightened breath.
And suddenly—
Caroline understood.
This wasn't just sickness.
Inside the room, Sebastian twisted slightly beneath the blankets, breathing unevenly even in sleep.
His face was tense.
Distressed.
Like he was trapped somewhere terrible.
Lillian sat beside him immediately, one hand gently stroking through his dark hair while the other rested against his chest.
"Sebastian," she whispered again.
"Wake up."
He looked terrified even asleep.
"…Don't…"
Lillian's expression immediately filled with pain.
"I'm here," she soothed softly.
"You're okay."
Sebastian flinched hard suddenly.
Like even in sleep he expected something to hurt him.
Caroline's chest physically hurt seeing it.
Then softly—
so gently—
Lillian pulled Sebastian closer against her.
Her hand cradling the back of his head carefully.
"I love you," she whispered quietly.
"You're safe."
Almost immediately, Sebastian's breathing began slowing slightly.
Still shaky.
Still uneven.
But calmer.
Like her voice alone grounded him.
Caroline stared silently.
Because suddenly everything made sense.
His exhaustion.
His guardedness.
The sadness hidden behind his composure.
The way he clung to Lillian's presence constantly.
This wasn't normal fear.
This was trauma.
Deep trauma.
And somehow—
Lillian had become the only place he felt safe enough to fall apart.
After several more minutes, Sebastian finally relaxed slightly against her.
Still asleep.
But calmer now.
Lillian continued gently stroking his hair even after his breathing evened out.
Like this wasn't unusual anymore.
Like she'd done this many times already.
Caroline quietly stepped away from the door.
Her heart aching softly.
Then silently returned to the guest room.
Thomas stirred slightly when she climbed back into bed.
Sleep still heavy in his voice.
"…Everything alright?"
Caroline stayed quiet for a moment.
Then softly whispered into the darkness:
"…That boy loves her very much."
Thomas opened his eyes slightly.
Confused.
Caroline stared quietly toward the ceiling.
Rain still falling softly outside.
"…I don't think anyone's ever loved him gently before."