"She had no idea where she was going. But for once, she wasn't afraid to follow."_Unknown
When Levi returned to the room, Maeve had drifted back to sleep.
Dr. Rowe stood near the window, jotting notes on a tablet. She glanced at him and offered a quiet nod.
"She'll sleep often," she said gently. "The stress, combined with the sedatives and pain meds, will keep her body pulling her back into rest."
Levi looked at Maeve—so still, so pale. The woman who once moved with quiet grace was now a fragile version of herself.
"Her therapy and rehabilitation should begin as soon as she wakes again," Dr. Rowe continued. "But more than that, she needs a change of environment. Somewhere new. Somewhere that doesn't echo what she went through. Familiarity can be dangerous after trauma. She needs to feel like she can breathe."
Levi stayed silent, jaw clenched.
"She had PTSD long before this," Dr. Rowe added. "You may not have seen it fully. She locked herself in her mind long before she married you. This abduction…" She paused, her voice lowering. "It's going to make everything a hundred times harder."
He nodded, barely.
Later, he stepped into Noelle's recovery room. She was also hurt badly. The inner thigh is one of the spots that when harmed would cause severe pain for a lady.
She lay propped up on pillows, her face tired but steady.
"How is she doing?" Noelle asked softly.
"She woke up for a while. Slept back," Levi said.
"Thank God," Noelle whispered. "I wouldn't know what to do if she hadn't…" Her voice trembled. "I couldn't do anything when they took her."
"You did a lot," Levi replied. "You stayed alive. You called. You informed us. You took a severe thigh wound—it's a miracle you're here."
"Thank you… for being there when I wasn't."
Noelle's lips trembled into a faint, sad smile.
"From the little time I've spent with her," she said slowly, "she's one of the strongest people I've ever met. Before Maeve, I thought strength was only physical. But her heart holds her strength." She blinked hard. "She's been through so much before she ever got here… but she kept pushing. I'm just scared that those monsters finally broke her."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Levi didn't speak. Because the truth was… he didn't really know Maeve.
Not yet.
He knew she was gentle.
That she liked to read.
That the little times she smiled, she smiled big.
That she used to dance.
That her eyes were beautiful—almost haunting in their depth.
That her skin was the kind of pale that bruised like paper.
But those were only the parts of her the eye could see.
He would know her beyond that.
He would understand her heart and the way it worked… Even if it was shattered, he would pick every piece and seal it back with Gold.
---
Maeve stirred to the soft sound of water pouring—like rain, steady and distant.
Her lashes fluttered as her eyes struggled to adjust to the gentle light that filtered into the room. For a moment, she forgot where she was.
Then the bathroom door opened.
Levi stepped out, damp and fresh from a shower, a sleek black robe draped around him. It hung just loosely enough to reveal a glimpse of his chest, the water still glistening faintly against his skin.
Maeve's breath hitched.
Her eyes widened as her gaze flicked to his collarbone, the lazy way the robe shifted as he moved. Her cheeks flared a deep, unmistakable red.
"You're awake," Levi said, voice lower than usual—surprised, but calm.
His gaze softened as he took in her tousled bed hair and dazed expression.
He stepped closer, his presence warm and steady.
"I need to talk to you about something important."
Maeve blinked rapidly, her face heating further.
He's wet.
And close.
And devastatingly gorgeous.
Levi paused.
He tilted his head slightly, then took a step back as realization dawned. Her face was nearly as pink as the inside of a rose.
A small, knowing smile tugged at the edge of his mouth.
"…Let me get dressed first," he said gently, and went into his closet, leaving behind a faint trail of steam—and a very flustered Maeve.
---
Levi came out of the bathroom, now dressed in his usual formal wear—a crisp white shirt tucked neatly into black trousers, his hair slightly sleeked back. He looked effortlessly composed, like the chaos of the past days hadn't touched him. But his eyes still held a quiet weight.
He moved toward the bed and sat on the edge, careful to keep his distance.
"We're going on a vacation," he began, voice steady. "Dr. Rowe said a change of environment will help you recover faster."
Maeve didn't speak—she just listened, her gaze low, her fingers fiddling with the hem of the blanket.
"We'll leave this evening, it's going to take at least a day to reach there." he continued. "Your therapy and rehabilitation will start as soon as we arrive."
Her brows furrowed.
"This evening? Isn't that… too soon?" she asked, surprised. "What about flights and documents? I don't have a visa."
He blinked at her, taken aback by her concern.
"You don't need a visa," he said calmly. "We're leaving on a private jet."
Her lips parted slightly in realization. She had forgotten how wealthy he was—how far removed from her world he truly lived.
"Your things are already being packed," Levi added. "A maid will be in shortly to help you freshen up and change."
At the mention of a maid, something flickered in Maeve's eyes. She sat up a little straighter.
"H-How's Noelle?" she asked quietly. "She was injured… badly."
Levi's expression softened.
"She's recovering faster than anyone expected," he said. "She's one of the few people coming with us. You'll see her when we get there."
Maeve nodded slowly, some of the tension in her shoulders easing.
Levi stood up, preparing to leave, but paused when he heard her voice again.
"Oh… one last thing."
He turned, brows raised slightly.
"Where are we going?" she asked, curiosity peeking through her guarded expression.
A smirk curved on his lips—one of the few genuine ones she'd ever seen.
"You'll see when we get there."
And with that, he turned and left, the maid entering immediately.