Morning had already settled in.
Soft light stretched across the room.
Warm.
Quiet.
Leah was awake.
Still for a moment.
Her hand rested gently over her stomach.
Three months.
A small curve now.
Subtle.
But real enough to change everything.
Her fingers traced over it slowly.
Careful.
A soft breath left her lips.
Then—
she turned her head.
Izana was beside her.
Already dressed.
Already composed.
Too composed.
A pause followed.
Her eyes stayed on him.
"…You're ready early today."
Izana adjusted the cuff of his sleeve.
"…I have work."
His voice was calm.
Controlled.
Leah didn't look away.
Something was off.
Small.
But there.
"…You're thinking about something."
A pause.
"…I always think."
Not wrong.
But not what she meant.
Leah shifted slightly against the pillows.
Careful with her movement.
"…What is it?"
Silence lingered.
Just long enough.
Then—
"…There's a deal today."
The words settled between them.
Leah's expression softened.
Just slightly.
"…Today?"
"…Yes."
A pause.
Her gaze dropped for a second.
Then lifted again.
"…You have to go."
Not a question.
He didn't deny it.
Leah gave a small nod.
"…It's okay."
A quiet breath followed.
"…We can go another day."
Izana's gaze shifted.
Sharpened.
"…No."
A pause.
"…You wanted to go today."
"…I can wait."
"…You shouldn't."
Silence filled the space between them.
Leah gave a small smile.
Gentle.
Controlled.
"…It's just shopping."
Izana's voice lowered slightly.
"…It isn't just that."
A beat.
Then—
"…Dante will take you."
Leah blinked once.
"…Oh."
A pause.
"…Okay."
Too easy.
Too calm.
Izana noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
"…Li."
"…It's fine."
Soft.
But final.
She didn't want to argue.
Didn't want to make him feel worse.
A quiet moment passed.
Then—
Izana stepped closer.
His hand lifted.
Resting gently against her cheek.
Warm.
Steady.
"…I'll make it up to you."
Leah leaned into his touch slightly.
"…You don't have to."
"…I will."
A pause.
His gaze dropped.
To her stomach.
His hand followed.
Careful.
Almost protective.
A soft press of his lips against her bump.
"…You behave today."
Leah let out a small laugh.
"…You're still talking to them every morning."
"…Yes."
"…Even when you're in a hurry?"
"…Especially then."
Another soft kiss.
Slower this time.
"…Don't trouble her too much."
Leah smiled.
"…They're not even born yet."
"…They're already causing trouble."
"…That's not fair."
"…It is accurate."
She laughed again.
Quieter this time.
He straightened slowly.
His hand lingering for a second longer.
Then—
he stepped back.
Turned toward the door.
Paused.
Just for a moment.
His gaze moved back to her.
To them.
"…Stay inside as much as possible."
Leah tilted her head slightly.
"…I'm going shopping."
"…Stay close to Dante."
"…I will."
A pause.
"…Don't worry so much."
"…I will."
The same answer.
Always the same.
Leah smiled softly.
"…I know."
He left.
The door closing quietly behind him.
Later.
Outside the mansion.
The car waited.
Black.
Still.
Dante leaned against it.
Arms crossed.
Already watching.
Leah stepped outside.
Slow.
Careful.
Her hand resting over her stomach again.
Dante's gaze dropped briefly.
Then back to her face.
"…Three months already."
Leah blinked slightly.
"…You're keeping track too?"
"…Someone has to."
"…Izana is definitely keeping track."
"…He's counting days."
Leah smiled faintly.
"…That sounds like him."
Dante opened the door for her.
"…He didn't want to miss this."
Leah paused for a second.
Just a second.
"…I know."
She got in.
Dante followed.
The engine started.
The car pulled away.
The shops were busy.
Bright.
Full of people.
Leah stepped inside slowly.
Looking around.
Taking everything in.
A small smile returned.
"…It's been a while since I've been out like this."
"…You don't leave the mansion much anymore."
"…No."
A pause.
"…He worries."
Dante let out a quiet breath.
"…He worries about everything now."
"…He always did."
"…Not like this."
Leah didn't argue.
Because he was right.
They walked further inside.
Rows of small things surrounded them.
Clothes.
Furniture.
Soft colours everywhere.
Leah slowed her steps.
Her hand resting over her stomach again.
"…It feels more real when I see all of this."
Dante glanced at her.
"…It is real."
Leah nodded slightly.
"…I know."
She reached out.
Picking up something small.
A tiny piece of clothing.
Soft.
Delicate.
Her fingers brushed over it.
"…He would like this."
A pause.
Dante exhaled quietly.
"…He would buy the entire store."
Leah laughed softly.
"…He probably would."
"…And then pretend it was necessary."
"…He would definitely say that."
Her smile lingered.
But her eyes shifted.
Just slightly.
To the empty space beside her.
Where he should have been standing.
The smile softened.
Didn't disappear.
But changed.
Outside.
Across the street.
Someone stood still.
Watching.
Unmoving.
Eyes fixed on her.
Tracking every step.
Every movement.
Patient.
Careful.
Inside—
Dante's posture shifted slightly.
Subtle.
But sharper now.
His gaze moved across the room.
Scanning.
Calculating.
Something felt wrong.
He stepped closer to Leah.
Without drawing attention.
"…Stay near me."
Leah glanced at him.
"…I am near you."
"…Closer."
A pause.
She studied his expression for a second.
Then nodded.
"…Okay."
She stepped closer.
Not questioning it.
Leah moved toward another section.
Picking up small items.
One by one.
"…What do you think of this?"
She held something up.
Dante glanced at it briefly.
"…It's small."
"…That's the point."
"…Then it works."
"…That's not helpful."
"…I'm not meant to be helpful here."
Leah smiled faintly.
"…You're doing fine."
A pause.
Then—
"…Do you think he'll like it?"
Dante didn't hesitate.
"…Yes."
"…Even if it's something simple?"
"…Especially then."
Leah nodded slowly.
"…He'll stare at it for hours."
"…And pretend he isn't."
"…Exactly."
A quiet moment passed.
Then—
Leah stilled.
Just slightly.
A strange feeling settled in her chest.
Her gaze moved around the shop.
People.
Movement.
Nothing obvious.
But something felt… off.
"…Do you feel that?"
Dante's eyes sharpened instantly.
"…What."
"…I don't know."
A pause.
"…It just feels strange."
Dante didn't dismiss it.
Didn't relax.
His gaze shifted again.
Slower now.
More focused.
"…Stay close."
Leah nodded.
"…I am."
The figure outside didn't move.
Didn't need to.
They were patient.
Waiting.
Watching.
The drive back was quieter.
Leah held the small bag in her lap.
Careful.
Protective.
Dante drove.
Eyes constantly moving.
Mirrors.
Road.
Everything.
"…You didn't enjoy it as much as you thought you would."
Leah looked down slightly.
"…I did."
A pause.
"…Just not the same."
"…Because he wasn't there."
Silence.
Then—
"…Yes."
Honest.
Soft.
Dante nodded once.
"…He didn't want to miss it."
"…I know."
"…He'll fix it."
Leah looked out the window.
"…He always tries to."
The mansion came into view.
Familiar.
Safe.
But something lingered.
Something unseen.
Because somewhere—
someone had been watching.
And they hadn't stopped.
Leah stepped inside.
Slow.
Careful.
She looked down at her stomach.
Her hand resting there again.
"…We went without him today."
Soft.
A small pause.
"…But he'll see everything."
Upstairs—
footsteps approached.
Izana was back.
And for a moment—
everything felt normal again.
But not completely.
Because outside—
the danger hadn't left.
It had only begun.