Lennox's POV
The line went dead, and with it, so did a part of me.
She smiled after the call ended. A full, bright smile. Like nothing was wrong. Like she hadn't just taken a dagger and stabbed it straight into my soul with those three damn words.
"I love you, Gabriel."
The sound of it kept echoing in my head, looping like a curse I couldn't exorcize.
Olivia sat back, finally relaxed for the first time since she woke up. Her hands weren't trembling anymore. Her breathing was even. She even gave a soft hum like she felt… safe.
Because of him.
She stretched slightly, then looked up at us like a doe blinking away the rain. "I'm… hungry," she said, rubbing her stomach gently. "Could I… have something to eat, please?"
Nora and Lolita immediately stepped forward. "Of course. We will prepare something for you."
She smiled at them. "Thank you."
I watched her in silence. She wasn't shaking anymore. The fear had passed. Her walls had lowered.
