Connor visited the hospital every single day, but Leonie never acknowledged his presence.

The doctors monitored her around the clock. She remained restrained to the bed, requiring nurses to carefully feed her. It was a brutal necessity; the moment she was untied, she would dissolve into violent hysterics, tearing the room apart in a desperate search for her dead parents.

It shattered Connor to see her like this. He desperately wanted to unbuckle the leather straps, but her episodes were so violently self-destructive that he had no choice but to stand back and watch in helpless silence.

Gwyneth also arrived at her usual time and bumped into Connor in the hallway.

"Gwyneth, I won't be able to come by and sit with Leonie for a while," Connor said, his voice tight.

Gwyneth gave him a surprised look. "Did something happen?"

She had taken comfort in knowing Connor was there watching over Leonie.

Connor gave a stiff nod. "An emergency came up. I have to head back to Starfall City."

Gwyneth didn't press the issue. After all, Connor and Leonie weren't officially together, and she couldn't demand he put his life on hold. Connor had zero intention of telling her he was heading straight into a Swedish crime syndicate. Gwyneth had too soft a heart—if she knew he was walking into a warzone, she would do everything in her power to stop him. He couldn't deal with another crying woman right now. Leonie's tears had already broken him. If Gwyneth started, he'd lose his nerve entirely.

He was going to avenge the Everharts, no matter the cost.

Seeing his mind was made up, Gwyneth sighed softly. "Go take care of your business, Connor. I'll make sure someone is always here with Leonie."

A heavy silence fell between them. Connor had booked a flight for that very night. He had only come to the hospital to say a silent goodbye to Leonie though with her current mental state, the farewell meant absolutely nothing to her. .net

Gwyneth genuinely believed he was just heading home. If she had known the truth, she would have locked him in a room. Letting her mother's elite operatives track down Felicia was infinitely safer than Connor playing vigilante.

Later that day, Layne finally found a spare hour to visit the hospital. He walked into the room to find his sister heavily medicated and strapped to the mattress. The reality of how broken she was hit him like a physical blow.

Gwyneth was sitting by the window. She quietly explained that the restraints were the only way to stop Leonie from hurting herself or the nurses. The moment her emotions spiked, the doctors had to sedate her.

Layne looked exhausted, the dark

circles under his eyes a testament to the brutat toll of planning a double funeral while holding the corporate empire together. He was stretched Seeing

to his absolute little

like this made him feel utterly powerless. He couldn't afford to

break down; he had to keep moving.

"Gwyneth, I have to leave her in your hands for now. If anything changes, call me immediately," Layne rasped.

Gwyneth nodded sympathetically.

She knew Layne was drowning in grief. The Everhart family had been violently ripped apart, leaving only Layne and Leonie Thank God they were adults; if they were still children, the tragedy would be unspeakable.

Stepping out of the hospital, Layne's phone vibrated. It was Maeve.

"Where are you?" her soft voice came through the speaker. "I made dinner. Are you coming home?"

Layne's chest ached. He desperately needed a sanctuary to quiet his mind, and just hearing Maeve's voice grounded him.

"Yeah. I'm on my way," he said, his voice thick with exhaustion.

When he arrived, Maeve had a beautiful spread waiting on the table, but Layne couldn't stomach a single bite.