Gwyneth still couldn't fathom exactly what twisted methods Dorian had used to

make Leonie so devoted that she was willing to throw her life away for him, but she knew the situation ran deeper than simple romance. Since Victoria had promised to use her resources to track down Felicia, Gwyneth believed her mother would deliver a solid lead soon.

Connor's eyes were bloodshot, the harsh red veins stark against his pale face. "If I had just kept a closer eye on her, none of this would be happening."

Right now, Connor wanted nothing more than to drag Dorian's corpse out and tear it apart. But the man's body was still sitting unclaimed in the hospital morgue. The hospital administration had tried repeatedly to contact his next of kin, but no one stepped forward. Leonie had been the one paying out of pocket to keep his remains in cold storage, hoping his family would eventually claim him. But weeks had passed in complete silence.

It wasn't entirely surprising. Dorian was dead, murdered by a notorious local crime boss. Even his closest relatives were likely terrified of being associated with the mess. The moment his family caught wind of the scandal, they went into hiding, refusing to touch the toxic situation. And so, Dorian remained in the morgue, forgotten by everyone except the woman he had ruined.

Gwyneth placed a protective hand over her stomach. "Give her time, Connor. Right now, all you can do is stay by her side quietly."

Leonie had spent the first half of her life sheltered and spoiled. She was headstrong and impulsive, entirely dismissing Mr. and Mrs. Everhart's warnings, which ultimately led to this irreversible tragedy. When the brutal reality of her parents deaths crashed down on her, it shattered her completely blow like that would have destroyed the toughest of people, let alone someone as fragile as Leonie.

The heavy sedative finally dragged Leonie under She lay limply on the bed, her eyes unfocused, staring into the dark void of the room. She seemed to look right through Gwyneth. When Gwyneth tried to speak to her, Leonie didn't so much as blink. Occasionally, she would murmur something, and if Gwyneth feaned in close she could hear Leonie whispering apologies to her parents, trapped in an endless loop of remorse.

No matter what Gwyneth or Connor said, Leonie gave no reaction. Her gaze

remained empty, treating them as if they were nothing but air.

Gwyneth had no idea how long this catatonic state would last. Desperate, she pulled the doctor aside into the hallway. The physician reviewed Leonie's vitals, checked her pupil dilation, and offered a grim shake of his head.

"This is a severe psychological trauma," the doctor explained. "Once her physical wounds heal, she's going to require intensive psychiatric intervention. The shock of losing her family has caused a total mental, break, resulting in these erratic behaviors. You need to have someone watching her around the clock to prevent another incident."

The doctor listed off a string of severe precautions before excusing himself.

Gwyneth felt a cold dread settle in her chest. The way the doctor spoke, they were preparing to treat Leonie like an institutionalized patient.