Leonard.

I got into the ward with Lurgard beside me, the quiet sound of our steps fading as we entered. The moment my eyes settled inside, I saw Lawrence standing close to Theresa, speaking in an attempt to make her laugh. His tone was light, almost playful, but it was obvious that it wasn’t working at all. Theresa’s expression remained distant, unchanged, as though his words were reaching her but not touching her.

"Silly him!" I muttered under my breath, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

I stood there for a second, watching the scene unfold, a tight feeling forming in my chest.

Didn’t he realize?

Didn’t he see that Theresa was no longer the same person she was six years ago?

How could he possibly think she would respond to something like that now, or see it as a joke?

It felt misplaced, almost painful to watch.

I missed the old us.

That thought settled heavily in my mind, lingering like a wound that refused to close.

I cleared my throat slightly, and almost instantly, Lawrence turned to look at us.

"Oh, you were here Leonard." He said immediately, standing up from where he had been seated. His voice carried a calmness, as if nothing unusual was happening. "Did you settle everything?" he asked, his tone steady and controlled.

I simply nodded my head in response. I didn’t feel like explaining anything, didn’t feel like engaging in any unnecessary conversation. At that moment, all I wanted was to be left alone with Theresa, without distractions, without anyone trying to fill the silence that only she and I seemed to understand.

Without thinking further, I walked straight toward Theresa, as though everything else in the room had ceased to exist. The presence of Lawrence, Lurgard, even the faint noise in the background all faded into nothing the closer I got to her.

"How are you feeling now?" I asked softly, my voice lowering as I reached her. I gently took her hands in mine, holding them carefully, almost cautiously, as though I was afraid that even the slightest pressure from my touch might worsen her situation or cause her discomfort.

I noticed her hands closely. Although the swelling seemed to have reduced compared to before, I still wasn’t completely at ease. In fact, I felt a strange relief at the improvement, even if it was small. It made me hold her hands a little more gently, more protectively.

I didn’t even want a mosquito bite on her skin. Not anything. Not even the smallest discomfort.

"It’s nothing serious, Leonard," Theresa said, her voice carrying a clear edge of irritation as she spoke, as though she was already tired of the attention and concern being directed toward her. "There is no need to be acting all dramatic," she added, her words firm and unsoftened, leaving no room for argument or further explanation.

Her statement landed on me quietly, but heavily. I felt it more than I showed. My reaction was almost immediate—I swallowed hard, my throat tightening slightly as I tried to process the tone in her voice, not just the words themselves.

It wasn’t just what she said, but how she said it, and it made something uncomfortable settle in my chest. I didn’t respond right away, because for a moment, I couldn’t find the right words that wouldn’t make things worse.

And then Lawrence actually dared to laugh.

The sound broke through the tension like it didn’t belong there at all, sharp and unnecessary, making my already tight nerves coil even further.

"He isn’t dramatic, Theresa!" Lawrence said sharply, stepping in quickly as if he had been waiting for the opportunity to defend me. His voice was firm, almost too confident, and I couldn’t help but shoot him a deadly glare immediately, my eyes narrowing in silent warning. I wanted him to stop talking.

But he didn’t even flinch.

Instead, he continued as though he was completely unaware of the pressure in the room, as though he wasn’t standing on thin ice at all.

"You can’t blame him for being too concerned," he added casually, his tone light and dismissive, like he was stating something obvious and harmless rather than deliberately pushing my patience further.

Damn him. He was clearly enjoying this far too much.

"She isn’t blaming me, Lawrence, and I hope you can watch your words!" I said without thinking, my tone coming out more irritated than I intended. The words left my mouth quickly, fueled by annoyance, as I struggled to keep my temper in check.

"Relax, Leonard... he was just putting in some good words," Lurgard said from where he was still leaning by the door, his posture relaxed as though none of this was worth reacting to.

I scoffed under my breath, shaking my head slightly in disbelief.

I just couldn’t believe the two of them were actually ganging up on me like this. Or at least, that was how it felt. Well, I supposed they already knew it was me Theresa liked, and maybe that was why they were acting this way—out of jealousy or unnecessary teasing.

A thought crossed my mind briefly. I wondered how they would react when they eventually found out she was my mate. The idea alone made something dark and satisfying twist in my chest. They would definitely regret every word, every laugh, every careless remark. They would wish they had never been part of this moment at all.

With that thought lingering in my mind, my lips curved slightly, a small but confident smile forming without my permission.

"Well, I didn’t ask him to!" I added, shifting my attention fully back to Theresa as if the others no longer mattered. "Theresa, there would be no need for you to show up at work for the remaining days of the week." I said, this time with what I believed was the most genuine and calm smile I could manage.

"Thank you!" she replied simply.

My heart leaped at her response, a sudden burst of excitement rising in my chest. She actually thanked me.

And just like that, a decision formed in my mind. Because of that small gratitude, I would definitely find a way to leave work on time during the remaining days of the week. No matter what it took.

So I could spend more time with her alone.

I smiled deeply to myself, unable to hide the anticipation building inside me, as I truly couldn’t wait for tomorrow to arrive so quickly.