Sebastian's breathing changed first.
Not steady.
Not calm.
Worse.
A rough, uneven pull of air that didn't quite fill his lungs properly.
Lillian felt it immediately.
Her arms tightened around him without thinking.
"…Sebastian…"
No response.
His weight stayed heavy in her hold, but something about him was slipping—like the unconscious state wasn't rest anymore.
It was deterioration.
Chloe noticed too.
Her voice dropped immediately.
"…We need to move. Now."
Lillian nodded once.
Still holding him.
Still not letting go.
But the moment she shifted to stand—
Charlotte stepped forward.
Blocking the path.
Cold.
Controlled.
Final.
"No one is taking him anywhere."
The corridor went still.
Relatives behind her hesitated.
Whispers started again, low and uneasy.
"…He looks worse…"
"…This is getting out of hand…"
Chloe stepped slightly forward.
"You're not a doctor," she said sharply.
"Move."
Charlotte didn't react to her.
Her eyes stayed on Lillian.
On Sebastian in her arms.
Then—
"Who are you to him?"
Lillian paused.
Just for a second.
Then answered without hesitation.
"I'm his girlfriend."
That word landed heavily in the space.
Something shifted immediately.
Charlotte's expression tightened—not surprise.
Judgement.
"…Girlfriend," she repeated slowly.
Then her eyes narrowed.
"You're attached to him."
Lillian didn't move.
"I love him," she said simply.
Charlotte's laugh was quiet.
Sharp.
Unpleasant.
"You love him," she repeated again, as if testing it.
Then her gaze cut sharper.
"And what exactly do you think you are loving?"
Silence.
Lillian didn't answer immediately.
Charlotte continued.
"You don't even know what he is."
Chloe stepped forward slightly.
"That's enough."
But Charlotte ignored her completely.
Her focus was locked on Lillian now.
"Do you know what Sebastian Wolfe is?"
Lillian's grip tightened slightly on Sebastian.
"I know who he is."
Charlotte's voice dropped.
Colder.
"Illegitimate."
The word hit the corridor like a break in air.
Lillian froze.
Just for a moment.
Her eyes lifted slowly.
"…What?"
Charlotte didn't stop.
"You heard me."
Behind them, one of the relatives muttered something under their breath.
Another voice:
"…She didn't know?"
Lillian's expression changed slightly.
Not confusion.
Shock.
But it didn't last long.
Because she looked down at Sebastian immediately.
Still unconscious.
Still burning with fever.
Still in her arms.
And nothing about him had changed.
Charlotte watched her carefully.
Waiting.
Like she expected rejection.
Or disgust.
Or hesitation.
Instead—
Lillian tightened her hold on him.
"…I don't care."
The words were immediate.
Clean.
Certain.
Chloe glanced at her quickly.
Charlotte didn't move.
Lillian lifted her gaze again.
"I don't care what you call him," she said firmly.
"He's still Sebastian."
Charlotte's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Still?"
Lillian stepped forward half a step—careful not to jostle him.
"He's not something you get to label and discard."
Charlotte's voice sharpened.
"You don't understand what you're involving yourself in."
Lillian's tone dropped.
Dangerously calm.
"I understand enough."
A pause.
Then—
"You're refusing to let us take him," Lillian said.
"And he is getting worse."
Charlotte didn't answer.
That silence was enough.
Lillian's jaw tightened.
"This is your last warning," she said quietly.
"Let us leave."
Charlotte didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Just watched.
And that was when it happened.
Sebastian's body jerked slightly in Lillian's arms.
A sudden sound escaped him.
Not words.
Not consciousness.
Pain.
A sharp, broken groan.
Then—
coughing.
Hard.
Violent.
Lillian's arms tightened instantly.
"…Sebastian!"
His body bent slightly forward against her, shaking with the force of it.
Another cough followed immediately.
Then another.
Too fast.
Too deep.
And then—
a pause.
A horrible, sudden stillness.
Lillian felt something warm against her shoulder.
She froze.
Slowly looked down.
Red.
Small at first.
Then unmistakable.
Blood.
The entire corridor went silent.
Even Charlotte stopped speaking.
Even the relatives behind her fell quiet.
No whispering.
No movement.
Just stillness.
Chloe's voice came out low.
"…Lillian…"
Lillian didn't look away from Sebastian.
Her grip tightened.
Her voice, when it came, was sharp.
Controlled.
Barely holding itself together.
"…He needs a doctor."
Charlotte didn't respond.
Lillian finally turned her head.
Eyes locked on her fully now.
And this time her voice broke through the room completely.
"No more discussions."
A beat.
Then louder.
"Let us go."
Silence.
Charlotte still didn't answer.
That was all Lillian needed.
She turned slightly.
"…Chloe."
Chloe moved immediately.
"Got it."
Lillian adjusted her hold on Sebastian carefully.
He was heavier now.
Looser.
Less responsive.
Chloe stepped in to support his other side.
"…Careful," Lillian muttered.
"I've got him," Chloe replied.
They lifted him together.
Slow.
Strained.
Sebastian's arms shifted weakly.
Instinctively falling around their shoulders.
Barely conscious movement.
Chloe gritted her teeth slightly.
"He's heavier than he looks…"
"Focus," Lillian said quietly.
From behind them—
a voice.
Unexpected.
"…Wait."
The butler.
Everyone turned slightly.
He stood still for a second.
Then stepped forward.
"…I'll help."
Chloe blinked.
Lillian looked at him carefully.
He avoided Charlotte's gaze.
Didn't look at the relatives.
Just stepped in.
Carefully adjusted Sebastian's weight.
Between them.
"…Let's move," he said quietly.
Even Chloe looked surprised.
But didn't question it.
They moved.
Fast.
Through the corridor.
Charlotte didn't stop them.
Not yet.
But her silence followed them all the way.
The car door was already open.
Cold night air hit them immediately.
Lillian climbed in first, sliding into the back seat.
Still holding Sebastian.
Chloe followed, carefully helping guide him in.
The butler assisted briefly, lowering him gently.
Sebastian's body shifted as they laid him down.
Too weak to resist.
Lillian immediately pulled him closer, adjusting him.
"Careful," she said again.
Chloe shut the door quickly.
Front passenger seat.
The butler stepped back.
For a moment, he just stood there.
Then closed the door for them.
Inside the car, everything felt smaller.
Quieter.
Sebastian lay across the back seat, still unconscious.
Lillian guided his head carefully onto her lap.
"…Stay with me," she murmured.
No response.
Chloe glanced back.
"He's stable for now," she said quietly.
"But we need a doctor. Fast."
Lillian nodded once.
Then looked down at Sebastian again.
His breathing was shallow.
Unsteady.
His skin still too hot in some places.
Too cold in others.
He shifted slightly.
Weak.
Almost instinctively.
Turning toward her.
His face pressed closer to her stomach, like he was drawn to warmth without awareness.
"…Sebastian…" Lillian whispered softly.
He didn't answer.
Didn't wake.
Just stayed there.
Lillian hesitated for a second.
Then slowly removed her coat.
Carefully draped it over him.
Shielding him from the cold air in the car.
Her hand didn't leave his hair.
She started stroking it gently.
Slow.
Steady.
"…You're okay," she said quietly.
"…you're okay."
Outside the car, the estate remained still.
Behind them.
Silent.
Watching.
But inside—
Lillian didn't look back.
Only forward.
Only at him.