Gustav couldn’t stop Ashley from leaving, and now he was left dwelling on the conversation they had in the lift.

He snapped out of his thoughts when he realized he was already on the intensive care unit floor.

Gustav stopped, staring at the door where Lucian was at the moment. He stared at it for a second before letting out a deep exhale. Dragging his feet, he sat down on the steel bench along the hallway. Resting his arms on his legs, he clasped his hands together, deep in thought.

"That woman..." he trailed off, thinking about Ashley.

He had noticed it today when she walked into Doctor Wesley’s office. There was just something about the air around her that felt different from what he was used to.

The Ashley he knew was childish, petty, and irritating. She was someone who knew how to get on people’s nerves, and she had never done anything to win people over.

Though even if she tried and begged them, people’s opinions of her would not change. Gustav knew that because, as he had said, their opinions would not change so easily. If anything, they would just think she was desperate.

But today, she was different. Not just the words coming out of her mouth, but the way she thought and the air around her. For once, Gustav could not recognize her. Especially in the lift.

For a moment, Gustav truly felt like he was talking to someone who knew the value of her position—someone who stood above him.

It was as though she truly was the Madam of Dominion.

"Triple the security in here, and transfer Lucian."

The orders she gave without missing a beat echoed in his head. Gustav lowered his gaze, staring at the floor between his feet.

If I do that, even if someone attacks the master, he won’t be here anymore, he thought. While he’s down, people will try to make sure he doesn’t wake up. Moving him to a different place is the best precaution we can take right now.

And Gustav moving around the hospital would also give the illusion that he was here protecting Lucian.

Gustav clasped his hands tighter as her words echoed in his mind once more.

"It’s easier to doubt those four than the members of Dominion, with whom you already have relationships and history. I’m not making the same mistake—you shouldn’t either."

He closed his eyes and massaged his brows, easing the faint throb in his head. Gustav remained silent for only a minute, but it felt like the longest minute of his life.

He stepped into the lift with her, telling himself he would decide afterward, even though she had said otherwise. He simply wanted to hear what she had to say. Now that he did, he had to make a decision.

Would he listen to her orders?

Or would he let his personal opinions get in the way?

At this point, what mattered most?

Gustav snapped his eyes open and nodded to himself. Then he shifted his gaze to Lucian’s door.

What mattered most was not his opinion of Ashley, her sudden change, or trust. What mattered most right now was making sure Lucian remained safe while he was defenseless.

"Just this once," he whispered to himself, keeping his eyes on the ICU door. "I’ll trust someone else other than you."

With that thought in mind, Gustav pulled his phone out of his suit pocket. He scrolled to the bottom of his contacts because one of the names saved there belonged to someone he had never thought he would call in his life.

As he pressed the call button, Gustav rose to his feet and walked away with the phone pressed against his ear. He listened to the ringing with each step until the line finally connected.

"I’ll arrange it tonight," he said as soon as the call connected. "Send me someone I should coordinate with."

*****

Meanwhile, Ashley sat in the back of the car when her phone started vibrating. When she saw the name on the screen, the corners of her lips curled upward.

Gustav.

Seeing his name on this phone was something she never thought she would see. After all, aside from Lucian, there were numbers on this phone that she hadn’t saved herself. One of them belonged to that man.

Once she answered, Gustav’s resolve was the first thing she noticed in his voice.

"I’ll arrange it tonight. Send me someone I should coordinate with."

Satisfaction flashed across her face, and she nodded.

"He’ll contact you."

With that, she hung up without lingering on the line. Ashley set her phone down before shifting her eyes toward the driver’s seat.

"Khan, I’ve sent you Gustav’s number," she said. "He’s on board."

Khan glanced at her through the rearview mirror.

"Congratulations, Madam."

"What a strange response," she muttered, leaning back in her seat as she looked out the window. "You can make sure no one finds out he’s no longer in the hospital, right?"

"Yes," he nodded. "With your help and his right-hand man on board, it’ll be easier than an abduction."

"Good."

"I’ve already informed Nelek, Warriyo, and Rus of the plan," he said. "We didn’t outsource this time. It’ll just be the four of us... and Gustav."

"Mhm," she hummed, already aware of Khan’s plan when she first told him about it.

Khan had entirely planned her abduction. His only mistake back then—aside from not considering that Ashley could fend for herself—was the betrayal that had already existed within it. And if there was one thing Ashley learned about Khan, it was that he never made the same mistake twice.

A moment of silence fell between them as Khan kept his eyes on the road.

What she asked of him was simple. He didn’t need months of preparation now that Gustav was on board.

However, he couldn’t help but glance at her through the rearview mirror regarding another concern.

"About those guys..." he trailed off, studying her reaction. "They’ll come around soon."

Ashley didn’t answer. She kept her eyes on the window, her finger tapping against her lap.

"Khan."

"Yes, ma’am?"

"Those idiots are the least of my concerns," she said quietly. "You’re a smart man, and I’m sure you understand that being Lucian’s wife doesn’t automatically make me the Madam of Dominion in their eyes. Even if I beg or involve myself in their affairs, if someone has already decided what I am to them, no matter what I do, I’ll only end up disappointing myself."

She blinked and turned toward the driver’s seat.

"I know that better than anyone."

Because no matter what she did in the Di Carpios, nothing changed. Even if she cried, begged, brought victory to the Di Carpios, and became someone useful, she was still a bastard child who should be exploited without even the slightest appreciation.

What made Dominion and the Di Carpios any different?

These people would keep finding fault in her no matter what she did. She learned that lesson in her previous life. After all, no one truly saw her hard work when she tried. Instead, her efforts were often deemed troublesome, useless, or simply annoying.

"Without Lucian, my anger toward Dominion is as clear as day," she stressed before shifting her eyes away from him and toward the window beside her. "If not for him and Primo, I’d bring Dominion down myself, even if it meant spending the rest of my life fighting this endless war."

She paused, calming her breathing.

"But since it’s for Lucian and Primo... I need to earn it. I want to earn it."

And Lucian’s absence was the best way to do it. Without him, people would be forced to see.

Khan glanced at her once more before nodding.

"Let me know if there’s anything else I can do, Madam."

"Haha. You’re very quick, Khan."

"Ambitious, I’d say. Our lives are not tied to the Black Dragon, but to yours," he said. "Death is not something we fear, but since we’re already here... I’d rather answer to the Madam of Dominion than to the Dragon’s left hand."