CHAPTER FIVE 5

It had been a week since that night, and things had slowly started to feel different in the villa. The air was calmer now. The tension that once filled the house had started to fade, little by little, like dust being swept off an old shelf.

Laura was getting better. Her strength was returning – not all at once, but enough for her to sit up without feeling dizzy, and to talk about gasping for air. Jace had been around most of the time, checking in on her, helping to feed her her meals and making sure she didn’t skip her medication. He usually took her out on evening strolls so she could receive cool air around the estate. His presence was fun and she eventually got to see the funny part of him some evenings. He never stopped apologizing for his mistakes and somehow her anger towards him was vanishing. They didn’t argue anymore. The sharp tone in her voice softened, and he no longer spoke to her like he was forcing himself to care. It was quite normal now.

It was a hot Sunday afternoon. The kind of day when the sun burned bright inside the villa, everything felt cool and calm. The air conditioner hummed softly, and the big white curtains danced to the breeze rhythm. Sunlight slipped through the open spaces, spreading soft golden lines across the clean marble floor. Jace had taken a break from work. He stepped out of his room, stretched his arms, and let out a quiet sigh. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, a few strands of hair falling over his forehead. He glanced toward the hallway that led to Laura’s room.

She had been acting all independent like she didn’t need his assistance sometimes and hadn’t let him help her for the past few days – she had been trying to do more on her own – standing up, walking short distances, brushing her hair. He admired her stubbornness even if he never said it out loud. Still part of him wanted to check on her.

But he judged against walking to her door and knocking because she would not open up. He sighed quietly and walked downstairs enjoying the echoing sounds of his footsteps in the hallway.

He made his way to the pool side. The calm blue water shimmered under the afternoon light, gentle ripples reflecting off the glass walls of the villa. A soft wind carried the scent of freshly trimmed flowers from the garden. At the corner of the pool was a changing space built with smooth white tiles and glass doors. He went in and slipped his swimming trunks- plain black, nothing fancy, just comfortable. When he stepped out, the sunlight hit his damp skin, making it glisten lightly. He dived into the pool, letting the cool water wash away the warmth of the day. Each stroke was slow and calm, quite steady. He swam across the wide pool, sometimes floating on his back with his closed eyes fixed to the sunny clouds. The sound of the water splashing softly around him was the only thing that broke the stillness.

After a while, he heard something – the quiet roll of wheels on the floor. He looked up. Laura was there, sitting in her wheelchair by the pool. Her hair was tied up neatly, she wore a light dress. She didn’t say anything at first. She just looked at him. He blinked, surprised, but said nothing too.

He swam a little more before finally stopping near the edge. The water dripped from his hair as he looked up at her.

‘You should be resting’ he said softly, wiping his face with his hand. Laura gave a small shrug. ‘Resting is boring,’ she muttered, her eyes following the water instead of him. He faintly smiled.

‘Still. You are supposed to rest and heal, not spy on me.’

‘I wasn’t spying,’ she replied quickly, but there was a tiny curve on her lips.

‘I just wanted some air so I came to check up on you thinking you were in your room. Since you weren’t there I found your phone ringing on the bed and decided to come meet you here,’ she explained stretching fort the phone to him. His facial expressions changed immediately he realized it was his dad and Lorenzo who had been calling his line.

‘Everything okay?’ Laura asked noticing his mood switch. He nodded slightly covering up his anxiousness so she wouldn’t notice.

‘I’ll be back. Let me take the calls,’ he announced stepping out of the pool to the change area. Her eyes trailed his fast steps and she smiled to herself mischievously. Never did she think this side of Jace Salvatore existed and she low-key enjoyed it.

Pushing the glass door rasp open, jace raked through his damp hair, quickly dialing his dad’s phone.

‘Dad, I’m here. I just saw your missed calls.’

‘Finally! I received your call back on time. Lorenzo claimed the Van core Deal papers didn’t go through! The clients are asking for your approval code.’

‘Oh! I’ll do that now. The work has been piled up lately. Sorry,’ Jace explained calmly. Lorenzo’s voice chimed in next, urgent but respectful.

‘Just be quick right now. They need your signature under your ID – Salvatore 019. Without it, the system in Canada can’t clear the client’s shipment,’

He sighed. Even when he tried to breathe, business found him.

‘Send me their files now,’ he said. ‘I’ll authorize them right now.’

Within minutes, the documents came through. He opened the encrypted mail, entered his code, and finalized the approval while putting the call with Lorenzo and Mr. Salvatore on hold.

‘Done’ he said immediately.

Lorenzo let out a sigh of relieve. ‘Thank you. Continue your work later. I hope Laura is doing fine’ he asked.

‘Yes she is fine Enzo. Tell dad I’ll call later. Bye.’

He ended the call and stared at the wall for a second, the echo of certain responsibility pressing on his shoulders. Nineteen, yet carrying a name quite heavy for his age.

When he finally stepped back out, Laura was still there – quiet, thoughtful, blindly starring at the shimmering version of herself in the pool. She immediately recognized his presence and shifted her gaze to him.

‘Business?’ she asked softly.

‘Yes, business.’ He nodded with a half-smile.

Laura tilted her head slightly, ‘You’re always busy, aren’t you?’

He shrugged, walking closer. ‘Well, someone has to make sure things are okay,’

‘Things are going to be okay,’ she teased. ‘You just like pretending you’re some big, serious man.’

He chuckled. ‘Pretending? Please, I am a big, serious man. Look at me – I even have the towel to prove it.’

That made her laugh slightly, a soft, genuine sound that filled the quiet space.

‘I actually wanted to swim,’ she said after a moment, her eyes drifting back to the pool. ‘I feel much better now and I have been trapped sitting for long.’

He leaned on the railing, glancing at her. ‘Laura, I know it’s my fault you are in this position and I am sorry but the doctor said no swimming till you are cleared.’

‘I’m serious Jace. I can handle a few laps. Besides you are here to instruct me and you’d save me if I drown.’

‘Oh, sure? I’d dare,’ he said walking to the edge of the pool. ‘I’ll just sit here and probably cheer you instead. Like – kick, Laura. Kick!’

She laughed so hard her eyes watered. ‘Really?’ she exclaimed. ‘You’d dare? You’re ridiculous.’

‘Yes’ he replied with mock pride.

‘You know,’ she said, still smiling, ‘You weren’t this funny before.’

He glanced at her, his tone softening just a bit. ‘Maybe I am just learning to laugh a lot these days.’

For a moment, they both fell quiet, only the soft ripple of the pool filling the air. Then she sighed. ‘Well…’ she squinted mischievously.

‘Fine. You win. I won’t swim.’

‘Good girl,’ he said with a teasing grin.

‘Don’t – good girl-me.’ She shot back. He grinned wider.

‘Actually. It suits you. Good girl.’

She huffed, rolling her eyes but smiling all the same. ‘You’re annoying.’

‘And yet,’ he said as he gently placed his hands on her wheel chair. ‘You keep talking to me.’

Laura said nothing, but the quiet smile on her face was enough to answer and just when he didn’t expect it, she pushed herself to stand as she dived into the pool.

A loud gasp escaped his lips as he dived in with her fast enough to rescue her drowning body that went deeper into the pool. Fear gripped all over him as he caught her just before she reached the tiled floor, wrapping an arm firmly around her waist and dragging her upward with every ounce of strength her had.

They broke the surface together. She coughed violently, water streaming from her mouth, her body limp against his.

‘Laura!’ he shouted again, voice shaking. ‘What were you thinking?!’

He pulled her toward the edge, lifting her head above water as he guided her to lay on the floor. She clung weakly to his shoulder, gasping for breath, her lips trembling

‘You dared…’ she murmured between coughs, voice thin and shaky.

‘Oh please!’ he snapped, though his voice cracked with fear rather than anger. ‘You almost drowned!’

Her eyes welled up, guilt flickering through them. ‘I didn’t mean to…’ he cut her off, brushing her wet hair from her face with a trembling hand.

‘Don’t. Just don’t ever do that again.’

Water dripped from both of them, pooling beneath as he helped her sit by the edge. He was breathing hard, still shaken. For a long moment, neither spoke, just the soft hum of the pool’s filter and the sound of water sliding of their skin.

Then she slowly looked up at him. ‘You’re shaking.’

He gave a weak laugh.

‘Because you scared the life out of me.’

‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered.

He exhaled deeply, still holding her steady.

‘Next time you want to swim,’ he said softly, ‘You wait for me. We’ll do it together. Alright?’

Her eyes softened. ‘Together?’ he nodded

‘Yes. I’ll hold you up and we’ll take it slow.’

‘You mean that?’

‘Yes. I mean it.’ He smile faintly, brushing a hair strand from her cheek.

He adjusted her on the wheelchair, but after one shaky breath he bent down again. Before she could protest, he slid one arm under her legs and the other around her back, lifting her gently. He wet clothes clung to him, but he didn’t care.

‘Jace, you don’t have to carry me,’ she said weakly.

‘I know,’ he replied ‘but I’m doing it anyway.’

For once, Laura didn’t argue. He kept a steady pace, his steps echoing the silent hallway as he carried her through the villa. Her breathing was shallow, he body cold against his chest, and he felt her fingers lightly clutch his vest for balance.

‘You scared me,’ he said quietly as they reached the staircase. The words slipped out before he could stop them.

She didn’t answer.

Maybe because she was too tired.

Maybe because she didn’t want to admit she scared herself too.

He shifted her weight slightly and pushed the bedroom door open with his foot. Her room smelled like warm vanilla - soft, clean, peaceful but he proceeded into the bathroom and lowered her into the bathtub. She winced a little but let him turn the water on her.

‘I’m calling your maids,’ he said, turning toward the door. She nodded to herself smiling unconsciously as he called out to Maria and Clara in the hallway. Their response was immediate so he dismissed himself, giving them space. He exhaled deeply, still shaking over what happened as an unexpected smile tugged at his lips while walking down the hall to his room

‘She’s really… something,’ he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

Stubborn. Reckless. Impossible. But alive.

He went into his room, and was quick to step into the shower. The hot water washed over him, easing the tension in his muscles. As he freshened up, the same small smile returned… the kind that comes when fear fades and reality settles.

Laura was safe. That was all that mattered.