The first rays of morning sunlight filtered gently through the tall curtains of the Wolfe mansion, spreading a soft glow across the room. Lila stirred faintly, not because she was ready to wake, but because of a persistent knocking at the door. She groaned softly, pulling the duvet higher, but the sound grew firmer. With a reluctant sigh, she pushed herself up.
Her body felt heavy with sleep, yet when she turned to her side, she froze in quiet surprise.
Adrian Wolfe—her enigmatic, cold husband—was sleeping. Peacefully. His usually sharp features were softened, his breathing steady, his brow relaxed in a way she had never seen before. He looked almost human, vulnerable even, stripped of the icy mask he always wore.
For a long second, Lila found herself staring at him. He looks so different… she thought, but quickly shook her head and slid out of bed. Whoever was knocking was about to wake him too. She padded across the floor and pulled the door open.
Standing there was Nathan, Adrian's ever-efficient right hand. He looked composed as usual, but his voice was low with respect.
"Good morning, Mrs. Wolfe."
"Good morning," Lila replied, adjusting her robe. "Adrian is still sleeping."
The words seemed to stun Nathan. His brows furrowed, and he instinctively leaned closer, pushing the door open just a fraction more to peek inside. What he saw made his jaw tighten in disbelief.
Adrian Wolfe. Asleep.
Nathan had worked with him for years. He knew the man's insomnia, knew how often Adrian paced late into the night or buried himself in work to outrun sleep that never came. Adrian didn't sleep—not without medication, and even then, only in restless fragments. Yet here he was, lying on the bed, undisturbed, breathing evenly like a man at peace.
Lila noticed his shock and frowned slightly.
"Is… everything okay? Do you want me to wake him?"
Nathan quickly straightened, clearing his throat. "No. Don't. I'll just wait outside until he wakes."
With a respectful nod, he turned and walked down the hall, though his mind raced. How?
Inside, Lila shut the door gently and leaned against it for a moment. Her eyes returned to Adrian, still motionless in sleep, before she pulled herself together and went to her closet. She picked out a modest skirt and a long-sleeved blouse, paired with a tailored coat and heels. She laid them neatly on the bed before slipping into the bathroom.
Steam rose quickly as she showered, the warm water loosening her tension. Afterward, she cleaned the bathroom with practiced neatness, then dried her skin and applied body lotion. She wrapped a towel securely around herself, stepped out, and retrieved her outfit from the bed. Moments later, she returned, dressed and composed, her hair pinned neatly as always.
By the time she emerged, Adrian was awake. He sat at the edge of the bed, his dark eyes fixed on her. For a moment, the silence stretched, heavy and strange.
"Good morning," Lila offered softly.
His gaze lingered, almost unreadable, before he gave a small nod.
"Good morning." His voice was deep, husky from sleep, and somehow warmer than usual.
"How was your night?" she asked carefully.
"It was… good." He studied her face for a moment longer, as though searching for something. "I see you're ready already."
"Yes," she said with a small smile.
"That's good. We have a long journey ahead of us," Adrian replied, standing. He stretched lightly, the faintest shadow of surprise crossing his face as if he still couldn't believe he'd woken refreshed. Without another word, he picked up a fresh shirt and disappeared into the bathroom.
Lila exhaled slowly, relieved to have survived the brief exchange. She stepped out of the room, answering a call from an old colleague.
"I'm sorry I couldn't continue the project," she said apologetically.
"It's okay," her colleague assured her. "I just wanted to check on you. I hope you're fine?"
"Yes, I'm good. Thank you for asking."
"Alright then. Take care."
The call ended, leaving her alone with her thoughts. She settled into the sitting room, scrolling absently through her phone while waiting for breakfast. The house was so vast that silence always seemed louder here.
A moment later, Nathan walked in.
"He's awake now," Lila said softly.
"Thank you," Nathan replied, giving her a polite nod before heading upstairs. He knocked once before entering Adrian's room.
Adrian was already dressed, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt before slipping into a dark blazer. His hair was slightly damp, his face sharper now that he was fully composed. Nathan studied him for a moment, then said quietly, "Boss, I came earlier, but you were still asleep. Honestly… I was shocked."
Adrian's brow lifted. "Shocked?"
"Yes. You never sleep, sir. I've known you long enough to know that."
Adrian turned slightly, his expression unreadable, though his mind was anything but calm. "You think something's wrong with me?"
"No, sir," Nathan said quickly. "But I was… surprised. That's all."
Adrian buttoned his blazer and looked at himself in the mirror, his jaw tightening. "I've always had trouble sleeping. For years. Even with pills, it never works. And yet…" He paused, his eyes narrowing as he recalled the previous night. "I slept."
Nathan frowned. "Are you saying Mrs. Wolfe had something to do with it?"
Adrian's lips pressed into a thin line. "Don't be ridiculous. That's not possible." He brushed past him, already moving toward the stairs. "Do you have everything prepared for the journey? It won't be a short one."
"Yes, sir. Everything is arranged."
"Good." Adrian descended the staircase, Nathan following behind.
In the sitting room, Lila rose as Adrian entered. He sat beside her, and she immediately adjusted, shifting just slightly as though unsure of the space between them. Adrian noticed. He leaned back, watching her in silence, his eyes unreadable.
Why did she unsettle him so much? Why had he slept for the first time in years with her lying just inches away? He couldn't answer it, and the thought irritated him more than he wanted to admit.
Before he could say anything, a maid entered. "Breakfast is ready, sir. Madam."
Adrian nodded, and together they walked into the dining room. The long table was set neatly, silverware glinting under the morning light. They both sat, the quiet clink of cutlery filling the space between them.
Adrian found his gaze drifting toward her again, lingering longer than he should. Her hands moved gracefully, her posture straight yet feminine. Every so often, her lips pressed together in thought before she took another bite.
How… can she make me sleep? he wondered, irritation flickering in his chest. It didn't make sense. He had fought with insomnia for years. Doctors, medication, endless nights of pacing, nothing had worked. Yet one night beside Lila Hart , he had closed his eyes and drifted into slumber without even realizing it.
On the other side of the table, Lila shifted uneasily under his gaze. Why is he staring at me like that? she thought, her fork trembling slightly. He hadn't said much, but his eyes told stories she couldn't read, questions she couldn't answer.
The silence stretched, but neither of them spoke. Each locked in their own thoughts, each quietly realizing that something had shifted between them—even if neither dared to name it.
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