The third day, Bella woke up without a nightmare.

Leo had been lying awake beside her, his eyes fixed on her face, watching for any sign of distress. He had barely slept the past two nights, his mind racing with worry, his body tense and alert. But when the morning light began to filter through the curtains, Bella stirred peacefully, her breathing slow and even.

She opened her eyes and smiled at him.

"Good morning," she said, her voice soft and sleepy.

Leo’s heart eased. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Good morning, bunny."

She stretched and sat up, looking refreshed and rested. "Did you sleep well?"

"Fine," he lied.

She didn’t notice.

As she went about her morning routine, Leo pulled out his phone and sent a quick message to Dr. Vance.

No nightmares last night. Still want you to study her reports.

Dr. Vance replied almost immediately: I’ve already received them. I’ll review them today and get back to you.

Leo nodded to himself, feeling a small sense of relief.

Was he being sensitive? Maybe he was... but he didn’t want to take any risks when it came to her.

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Meanwhile, at the hospital, Dominique was having the time of his life.

He was propped up against his pillows, a small smirk on his face, his eyes gleaming with barely concealed amusement. His neck was still bandaged, his movements still careful, but his spirit was high.

Hazel sat on the couch nearby, a book in her hands, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp. She was wearing a soft cream sweater, her hair loose, her scar barely noticeable in the warm morning light. She looked beautiful.

And Nicolas Vale stood at the foot of the bed, looking like he would rather be anywhere else.

His chest was still bandaged from the bullet wound. His face was pale, his eyes shadowed with exhaustion. His hair was disheveled, his clothes wrinkled. He looked like a man who had been through hell and was still stumbling through it.

He had no choice but to come.

His company was bankrupt. His friends had abandoned him. His recent girlfriends and hookups had stopped answering his calls. And his parents were barely speaking to him.

He had nowhere else to go.

"Umm..." Nicolas shifted uncomfortably, his eyes fixed on the floor.

Dominique raised an eyebrow. "I’m sorry, did you say something? I couldn’t hear you over the sound of my own contentment."

Nicolas’s jaw tightened. "I’m here to apologize."

"Really?" Dominique’s voice was dripping with mock surprise. "Nicolas Vale, apologizing? I never thought I’d see the day. I thought you’d rather die than admit you were wrong."

Nicolas’s hands curled into fists at his sides. "I came here to say I’m sorry for what I did."

Dominique tilted his head, studying him. "You’re sorry? That’s it? That’s all you have to say? You tried to kill me, and all you can manage is ’I’m sorry’?"

"What else do you want me to say?"

"I don’t know. Maybe something like, ’I’m a pathetic, insecure little man who couldn’t handle rejection and tried to murder someone.’ That would be a good start."

Nicolas’s face flushed with anger. "You—"

Hazel looked up from her book, her eyes cold and terrifying. Nicolas felt a shiver run down his spine.

She didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to. Her aura was enough to shut up a little man like him.

Dominique grinned. "You know, I really don’t have time for this. I have to sleep in five minutes. So if you’re done groveling, you can leave."

Nicolas stared at him, his face red with humiliation.

"I came here to apologize," he said through gritted teeth. "That’s what you wanted. That’s what they wanted. And I did it."

"And I accept your apology," Dominique said, his voice flat. "Now get out."

Nicolas’s hands shook with barely contained rage. He wanted to punch this guy. He wanted to grab him by his stupid bandaged neck and—

"Are you going to leave, or do I have to call security?" Hazel’s voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it.

Nicolas looked at her. Her eyes were cold and dark. There was no love in her beautiful eyes for him. Which made his heart ache, and he realized he was in love with Hazel.

He had always been in love with her. He had just been too proud, too arrogant, too blind to see it. And now, standing here in this hospital room, watching her look at him with nothing but disgust, he understood.

He had lost her. He had lost everything.

He turned and walked out. The door clicked shut behind him.

Dominique leaned back against his pillows, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Well," he said, "that was fun."

Hazel looked at him, her expression softening. "You’re enjoying this way too much."

"Of course I am. He’s miserable. I’m happy. It’s perfect."

Hazel shook her head helplessly.

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

"Bro... when are you going to talk to me?"

Jay’s voice cracked with heartache as he stood in the doorway of the study, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes fixed on his brother. Leo was sitting on the leather couch, a file in his hands, his black turtleneck clinging to his broad shoulders. His dark hair was slightly disheveled, his jaw sharp, his posture relaxed but his presence filled the room like a storm waiting to break.

Hearing Jay’s voice, Leo lifted his head slowly, his gray eyes meeting his brother’s with icy detachment. The warmth that had once lived there was gone, replaced by something cold and unreadable.

"Oh?" Leo muttered, his voice flat. He set the file down on his lap and leaned back. "First tell me how long you’ve been hiding this secret."

Jay’s body trembled. His throat tightened. He wanted to look away, but he forced himself to hold Leo’s gaze.

"A m-maybe a year," Jay stammered. "A little over a year."

A small, mocking smile curled at the corner of Leo’s lips. It didn’t reach his eyes. It was the kind of smile that made Jay’s blood run cold.

"I hope you got your answer," Leo said, his voice low and cold.

He stood up slowly, his movements deliberate and walked past Jay without another glance.

Jay stood frozen, his heart pounding, his hands shaking.

He had his answer... but he didn’t like it.