When the gentle knock came, Bella quietly opened the door for the maid. She took the tray herself, careful not to make too much noise, and carried it to the small coffee table near the couch. The smell of the warm soup and steamed rice made her shoulders relax a little.
"Thank you…" she said softly to the maid, who only bowed politely before leaving them alone again.
Bella returned to the tray and made sure everything was just right – a bowl of clear broth, a plate of simple rice and vegetables, two bottles of water, and the fever medicine still in its neat little packet. She double-checked the labels, her small brows furrowed in concentration.
Satisfied, she picked up the medicine and water and padded back to the bed.
Leonardo hadn't moved much. He lay on his side, his arm draped across his forehead, the dark strands of his hair falling over his furrowed brows. He looked exhausted and yet, even half-asleep and sick.
