Chapter 5

Nora’s pov

That afternoon, I had to visit St. Jude’s alone to consult with my mother’s attending physician regarding her upcoming treatment schedule.

Leo was fast asleep in his second-floor bedroom, taking his usual afternoon nap. Gable assured me he would keep a close eye on the boy, so I quietly slipped out of the estate, taking a taxi to the hospital without troubling the family driver.

My mother looked better than she had in months. Her cheeks had regained a faint hint of color, and her breathing was far less labored thanks to the new medical team Luca had arranged. I sat by her bedside for an hour, holding her hand and updating her on my tutoring work, keeping the details of my contract marriage light and comfortable so as not to worry her.

When I returned to the Castellano estate two hours later, I opened the front doors to absolute chaos.

The quiet, orderly atmosphere of the grand foyer was entirely shattered. Gable stood near the bottom of the staircase, looking visibly shaken, while two maids hovered nervously near the hall. From the second floor, a sharp, frantic crying echoed down the marble corridors.

"What happened?" I asked, dropping my handbag onto a side table and hurrying toward the stairs.

"Master Leo woke up early from his nap, Mrs. Castellano," Gable explained quickly, his voice tight with worry. "He went to the music room to look for you. When he didn't find you at the piano, he searched your bedroom. He thought... he believed you had disappeared for good. He refused to let anyone near him."

My heart squeezed with sudden guilt and fear. I rushed up the stairs, following the sound of his ragged hitches and desperate sobs.

I opened the door to my bedroom. Leo was huddled in the narrow gap between the heavy oak wardrobe and the wall. His tiny knees were pulled flush against his chest, his face red and slick with tears, his small body trembling violently with primal fear.

I dropped to my knees on the soft rug, slowly crawling closer so as not to startle him.

"Leo... hey, sweet boy," I murmured, keeping my voice gentle, warm, and steady. "I'm right here. Look at me, sweetheart. I didn't disappear."

He looked up, his huge, dark eyes bloodshot and wide with panic.

"I only went to visit my mother at the hospital," I explained softly, extending my arms toward him while remaining seated on the floor. "I promised I would come back, didn't I? I would never leave you without saying goodbye."

For two agonizing seconds, he stared at me through his tears, checking to make sure I was real. Then, with a sudden, breathless cry, he burst out from behind the wardrobe and threw himself into my lap.

His small arms wrapped around my neck with incredible force. I pulled him close against my chest, rocking him gently on the floor, smoothing down his hair and humming the soft lullaby from our piano sessions.

"You're safe," I whispered into his hair. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."

He wept into my shoulder for several minutes, his heavy gasps gradually slowing as the rhythm of my voice calmed his pounding heart. Slowly, his desperate grip on my coat loosened, though he refused to let go of my sleeve.

He pulled back just an inch, his tear-stained face looking directly into mine. His small lips trembled, parting as he swallowed hard.

"...Nora," he rasped softly.

The sound was quiet, raw, and barely louder than a whisper, but it echoed through the silent room like thunder.

I froze, my breath catching in my chest. I looked at him, my eyes widening. 

I looked around and everyone’s eyes were as wide as mine. 

He could talk? 

"What did you say, Leo?"

Leo reached out one small, pale hand, his tiny fingers touching the side of my cheek.

"Nora..." he repeated, clearer this time, his dark eyes fixed on mine with complete, unreserved trust. "Don't... go."

Tears pricked the back of my eyes, spilling over my lashes before I could stop them. I let out a tearful, happy breath and pulled him back into a tight, protective hug. "I won't. I promise you, Leo. I won't ever leave you."