After they arrived home, the house settled into a quiet lull. Lilly didn’t stay long, barely half an hour passed before she hugged Celia tightly and made her way back to her own destination. The farewell was warm but brief, and once the door closed behind her, the silence deepened again.Not one to sit still with her thoughts, Celia moved to her room to change into something more comfortable, a soft cotton top and lounge pants before heading straight to the kitchen. She needed to keep her hands busy, her mind occupied.As she stepped inside, the warm scent of herbs and simmering broth lingered in the air. The senior chef, a kind woman with salt-and-pepper hair tucked neatly under a net cap, turned and offered a respectful smile.“Good day, ma’am.”Celia returned the smile. “What’s he having for dinner tonight?”Before the chef could answer, Celia gently cut in, her tone softer now. “Actually, I would love to prepare his dinner.”The woman blinked, surprised. “I wouldn’t want you to b
The three of them spent nearly three hours in each other’s company, laughter bouncing off the walls as they reminisced, joked, and shared quiet moments of affection. It was the kind of rare, peaceful afternoon that stitched itself into memory, simple, but cherished.But as the sun began to dip lower in the sky, time started catching up with them.“You should go freshen up,” Celia said, glancing at the time displayed on her phone.Nico sprang to his feet with a grin. “Right. I don’t want to be late.” He jogged off toward his room, a small bounce in his step.Lilly watched him go, smiling softly. “I still can’t believe all of this is happening,” she said, her voice filled with quiet wonder.“I know,” Celia replied, her tone mirroring the same disbelief. “It feels surreal.”“We should get ready too,” Lilly said, rising to her feet.“You and I at the same time?” Celia teased, raising a brow.“I didn’t say that,” Lilly laughed, “but it’s not a bad idea.”Celia winked. “Exactly what I was t
The atmosphere was still as the car pulled into the driveway. Everything was quiet, more quiet that it used to be.When the doors opened, Viktor and Mason immediately stepped out and moved to Rafael’s side. They carefully placed his arms around their shoulders to support him as he eased out of the car. But the moment his feet touched the ground, Rafael paused. He didn’t like being fussed over.“I’ve got it,” he said, his voice firm despite the strain.Before they could argue, he gently pulled free from them and straightened with a flinch, choosing to limp forward on his own. Each step was slow and deliberate, pain clearly marked into the tight lines of his face, but his pride wouldn't let him lean on anyone.Celia quickly moved to his side, saying nothing as she followed closely, ready to catch him if he faltered. Her eyes never left him, tension coiled tightly in her chest with every uneven step he took toward the door.They stepped into the living room, and there sat Nico, looking s
Rafael finally stirred, his eyelids twitching open after nearly fourteen hours of unconsciousness. A sudden, searing pain shot through his knee, dragging a low, involuntary wince from his throat. The room stirred with movement. Celia was the first to notice. She shot up from her seat, eyes wide with concern, and rushed to his side. “Rafael,” she breathed, gripping his hand gently and wrapping both of hers around it. “What is it? Where does it hurt?” “My knee,” he said through clenched teeth. “It’s been hurting, but it’s worse now.” Celia’s eyes flew to the bandages, then to his face, his jaw locked in tension, sweat starting to form at his temple. “You missed your afternoon dose,” she said, her voice soft but urgent. “I think that’s why it’s worse now.” Without hesitation, she turned and pressed the nurse call button, then looked over her shoulder at Mason and Viktor, who were both already rising to their feet. Mason gave a small nod and exhaled, tension draining slightly from
Lorenzo had been battling waves of pain ever since the brutal fight. His body ached with every movement, bruises deepening, cuts stinging, and his ribs still sore from the blows he took. But true to his stubborn nature, he refused to go to any hospital. He didn’t want a doctor, or records, or questions.Instead, it was Fiona who had been tending to his wounds. Her care was far from appreciated, not because she lacked skill, but because Lorenzo made the entire experience hellish. He barked orders, snarled at her when the antiseptic stung, and refused to sit still when she tried to clean his wounds. He didn’t make it easy because he didn’t want to.Fiona had finally drifted off into an exhausted nap in one of the guest rooms, grateful for a few moments of peace after a day of dealing with his volatile moods and relentless pain. But the peace didn’t last long.The door suddenly flung open, slamming against the wall. Fiona jolted awake with a gasp. Lorenzo stood at the threshold, limping
The morning light crept softly into the hospital room, golden rays filtering through the blinds and casting a warm glow over the space. The air was quiet, peaceful, at least on the surface. Celia remained sound asleep, her body curled gently against Rafael’s. Her breath was slow and steady, her head rising and falling with the rhythm of his chest.Rafael, however, had not closed his eyes once. Despite the heavy medication and the lingering fog from the surgery hours before, sleep had evaded him. Pain throbbed beneath his skin in quiet waves, sharpest around his knee and ribs, but he bore it in silence. He didn’t want to wake her. It had been his idea to keep her close, and now that she was here, wrapped around him like a protective warmth, he didn't want to lose the moment, even if it ached.His thoughts were interrupted by the door opening with a soft creak. Doctor Franklin stepped in, a clipboard in hand and a mild smile on his face.“Good morning, Mr. Mercer,” he greeted as he appr